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Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who did obtain a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:
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Grace to you, and peace be multiplied in the acknowledgement of God and of Jesus our Lord!
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As all things to us His divine power (the things pertaining unto life and piety) hath given, through the acknowledgement of him who did call us through glory and worthiness,
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through which to us the most great and precious promises have been given, that through these ye may become partakers of a divine nature, having escaped from the corruption in the world in desires.
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And this same also — all diligence having brought in besides, superadd in your faith the worthiness, and in the worthiness the knowledge,
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and in the knowledge the temperance, and in the temperance the endurance, and in the endurance the piety,
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and in the piety the brotherly kindness, and in the brotherly kindness the love;
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for these things being to you and abounding, do make [you] neither inert nor unfruitful in regard to the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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for he with whom these things are not present is blind, dim-sighted, having become forgetful of the cleansing of his old sins;
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wherefore, the rather, brethren, be diligent to make stedfast your calling and choice, for these things doing, ye may never stumble,
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for so, richly shall be superadded to you the entrance into the age-during reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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Wherefore, I will not be careless always to remind you concerning these things, though, having known them, and having been established in the present truth,
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and I think right, so long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up in reminding [you],
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having known that soon is the laying aside of my tabernacle, even as also our Lord Jesus Christ did shew to me,
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and I will be diligent that also at every time ye have, after my outgoing, power to make to yourselves the remembrance of these things.
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For, skilfully devised fables not having followed out, we did make known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but eye-witnesses having become of his majesty —
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for having received from God the Father honour and glory, such a voice being borne to him by the excellent glory: `This is My Son — the beloved, in whom I was well pleased;'
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and this voice we — we did hear, out of heaven borne, being with him in the holy mount.
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And we have more firm the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise — in your hearts;
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this first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition,
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for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.