THE HOLY BIBLE

Douay-Rheims Version

 

THE SECOND BOOK OF PETER   

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

 

         The Second Book of Peter, Chapter 1
1    Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that
     have obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God
     and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2    Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God
     and of Christ Jesus our Lord:
3    As all things of his divine power which appertain to life and
     godliness, are given us, through the knowledge of him who hath
     called us by his own proper glory and virtue.
4    By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises:
     that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature:
     flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the
     world.
5    And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue;
     and in virtue, knowledge;
6    And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and
     in patience, godliness;
7    And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of
     brotherhood, charity.
8    For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you
     to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our
     Lord Jesus Christ.
9    For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and
     groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old
     sins.
10   Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you
     may make sure your calling and election.  For doing these
     things, you shall not sin at any time.
11   For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into
     the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12   For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance
     of these things:  though indeed you know them, and are
     confirmed in the present truth.
13   But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to
     stir you up by putting you in remembrance.
14   Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at
     hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified
     to me.
15   And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my
     decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things.
16   For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to
     you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we
     were eyewitnesses of his greatness.
17   For he received from God the Father, honour and glory:  this
     voice coming down to him from the excellent glory:  This is my
     beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
18   And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with
     him in the holy mount.
19   And we have the more firm prophetical word:  whereunto you do
     well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place,
     until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20   Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is
     made by private interpretation.
21   For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time:  but the
     holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost
            The Second Book of Peter, Chapter 2
1    But there were also false prophets among the people, even as
     there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in
     sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them:
     bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2    And many shall follow their riotousness, through whom the
     way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
     merchandise of you.  Whose judgment now of a long time
     lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.
4    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered
     them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto
     torments, to be reserved unto judgment:
5    And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the
     eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood
     upon the world of the ungodly.
6    And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the
     Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown,
     making them an example to those that should after act
     wickedly.
7    And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd
     conversation of the wicked.
8    For in sight and hearing he was just:  dwelling among them,
     who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.
9    The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but
     to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
     tormented.
10   And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of
     uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed,
     they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.
11   Whereas angels who are greater in strength and power, bring
     not against themselves a railing judgment.
12   But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the
     snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they
     know not, shall perish in their corruption,
13   Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a
     pleasure the delights of a day:  stains and spots, sporting
     themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you:
14   Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not:
     alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with
     covetousness, children of malediction:
15   Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed
     the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,
16   But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the
     yoke, which speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of
     the prophet.
17   These are fountains without water, and clouds tossed with
     whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.
18   For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the
     desires of fleshly riotousness, those who for a little while
     escape, such as converse in error:
19   Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves
     of corruption.  For by whom a man is overcome, of the same
     also he is the slave.
20   For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the
     knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they be again
     entangled in them and overcome:  their latter state is become
     unto them worse than the former.
21   For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
     justice, than after they have known it, to turn back from that
     holy commandment which was delivered to them.
22   For, that of the true proverb has happened to them:  The dog
     is returned to his vomit:  and, The sow that was washed, to
     her wallowing in the mire
             The Second Book of Peter, Chapter 3
1    Behold this second epistle I write to you, my dearly beloved,
     in which I stir up by way of admonition your sincere mind:
2    That you may be mindful of those words which I told you before
     from the holy prophets, and of your apostles, of the precepts
     of the Lord and Saviour.
3    Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come
     deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4    Saying:  Where is his promise or his coming?  for since the
     time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were
     from the beginning of the creation.
5    For this they are wilfully ignorant of, that the heavens were
     before, and the earth out of water, and through water,
     consisting by the word of God.
6    Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water,
     perished.
7    But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word
     are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
     judgment and perdition of the ungodly men.
8    But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one
     day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
     as one day.
9    The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but
     dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should
     perish, but that all should return to penance.
10   But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the
     heavens shall pass away with great violence, and the elements
     shall be melted with heat, and the earth and the works which
     are in it, shall be burnt up.
11   Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what
     manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and
     godliness?
12   Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the
     Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
     and the elements shall melt with the burning heat?
13   But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his
     promises, in which justice dwelleth.
14   Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be
     diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and
     blameless in peace.
15   And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also
     our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him,
     hath written to you:
16   As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things;
     in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the
     unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other
     scriptures, to their own destruction.
17   You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take
     heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you
     fall from your own steadfastness.
18   But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
     Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and unto the
     day of eternity.  Amen.

 

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