THE SECOND EPISTLE

of
PETER
Wycliffe-Purvey, 1395 KJV, 1611
Chapter 1 Chapter 1
1:1 Simon Peter, servant and apostle 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an
of Jesus Christ, to them that have taken apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that
with us the even-faith [to them that have have obtained like precious faith with us
taken with us the even much faith], in the through the righteousness of God and
rightwiseness of our God and Saviour our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ,
1:2 grace and peace be filled to you, 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied
by the knowing of our Lord Jesus unto you through the knowledge of
Christ. [grace to you, and peace be full-filled, God, and of Jesus our Lord,
in the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ.]

1:3 How all things of his god-like 1:3 According as his divine power
virtue, that be to life and piety [that be hath given unto us all things that pertain
into life and piety], be given to us, by the unto life and godliness, through the
knowing of him, that called us for his knowledge of him that hath called us to
own glory and virtue. glory and virtue:
1:4 By whom he gave to us most 1:4 Whereby are given unto us
[and] precious promises; that by these exceeding great and precious promises:
things ye shall be made fellows of God's that by these ye might be partakers of
kind, and flee the corruption of that the divine nature, having escaped the
covetousness [fleeing the corruption of that corruption that is in the world through
covetousness], that is in the world. lust.
1:5 And bring ye in all busyness, and 1:5 And beside this, giving all
minister in your faith virtue, and in diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
virtue knowing [soothly in virtue science, or to virtue knowledge;
knowing];

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1:6 in knowing abstinence [in science 1:6 And to knowledge temperance;

soothly abstinence], in abstinence patience, and to temperance patience; and to
in patience piety; patience godliness;
1:7 in piety, love of brotherhood, and 1:7 And to godliness brotherly
in love of brotherhood charity. kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity.
1:8 For if these be with you, and 1:8 For if these things be in you, and
overcome [and overcome, or be plenteous], abound, they make you that ye shall
they shall not make you void, neither neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
without fruit [nor without fruit], in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 But to whom these be not ready, 1:9 But he that lacketh these things
he is blind, and gropeth with his hand, is blind, and cannot see afar off, and
and forgetteth the purging of his old hath forgotten that he was purged from
trespasses. his old sins.

1:10 Wherefore, brethren, be ye more 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,

busy [more busy ye], that by good works give diligence to make your calling and
ye make your calling and choosing election sure: for if ye do these things,
certain; for ye doing these things shall ye shall never fall:
not do sin any time [soothly ye doing these
things, shall not sin any time].

1:11 For thus the entering into [the] 1:11 For so an entrance shall be
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and ministered unto you abundantly into
Saviour Jesus Christ, shall be ministered the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
to you plenteously. Saviour Jesus Christ.

1:12 For which thing I shall begin to 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent
admonish you evermore of these things; to put you always in remembrance of
and I will that ye be knowing, and these things, though ye know them, and
confirmed in this present truth. be established in the present truth.
1:13 Forsooth I deem justly [Forsooth I 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I
deem just], as long as I am in this am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by
tabernacle, to raise you in admonishing; putting you in remembrance;

1:14 and I am certain, that the putting 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put
away [for the putting off] of my tabernacle off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord

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is swift, by this that our Lord Jesus Jesus Christ hath showed me.
Christ hath showed to me.
1:15 But I shall give busyness, that oft 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that
after my death ye have mind of these ye may be able after my decease to have
things. these things always in remembrance.

1:16 For we not following unwise 1:16 For we have not followed
tales, have made known to you the cunningly devised fables, when we made
virtue and the before-knowing [the virtue known unto you the power and coming
and prescience, or before-knowing,] of our Lord of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
Jesus Christ; but we were made eyewitnesses of his majesty.
beholders of his greatness [but made
beholders of his greatness].

1:17 For he took of God the Father 1:17 For he received from God the
honour and glory, by such manner voice Father honour and glory, when there
slid down to him from the great glory, came such a voice to him from the
This is my loved Son, in whom I have excellent glory, This is my beloved Son,
pleased to me; hear ye him. in whom I am well pleased.
1:18 And we heard this voice brought 1:18 And this voice which came from
from heaven, when we were with him in heaven we heard, when we were with
the holy hill. him in the holy mount.

1:19 And we have a firmer word of 1:19 We have also a more sure word
prophecy, to which ye giving attention of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that
do well, as to a lantern that giveth light ye take heed, as unto a light that
in a dark place, till the day begin to give shineth in a dark place, until the day
light, and the day star spring in your dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts. hearts:
1:20 And first understand ye this 1:20 Knowing this first, that no
thing, that each prophecy of scripture is prophecy of the scripture is of any
not made by proper interpretation; [First private interpretation.
understanding this thing, that each prophecy
of scripture is not made by proper, or own,
interpretation;]

1:21 for prophecy was not brought 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old
any time by man's will, but the holy time by the will of man: but holy men
men of God inspired with the Holy of God spake as they were moved by the

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Ghost spake. Holy Ghost.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2
2:1 But also false prophets were in 2:1 But there were false prophets also
the people, as in you shall be masters among the people, even as there shall be
liars, that shall bring in sects of false teachers among you, who privily
perdition; and they deny that Lord that shall bring in damnable heresies, even
bought them, and bring on themselves denying the Lord that bought them,
hasty perdition. [+Forsooth there were and and bring upon themselves swift
false prophets of the people, as and in you shall destruction.
be master liars, which shall bring in sects of
perdition; and they denying that Lord that
bought them, and bring on themselves hasty
perdition, or damnation.]

2:2 And many shall follow their 2:2 And many shall follow their
lecheries, by whom the way of truth pernicious ways; by reason of whom the
shall be blasphemed; way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2:3 and they shall make merchandise 2:3 And through covetousness shall
of you in covetousness by feigned words. they with feigned words make
To whom doom now a while ago merchandise of you: whose judgment
ceaseth not [To whom doom now sometime now of a long time lingereth not, and
ceaseth not], and the perdition of them their damnation slumbereth not.
nappeth not.
2:4 For if God spared not angels 2:4 For if God spared not the angels
sinning, but betook them to be that sinned, but cast them down to hell,
tormented, and to be drawn down with and delivered them into chains of
bonds of hell into hell [but betook them to darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
be tormented, drawn down with bonds of hell
into hell], to be kept into doom;

2:5 and spared not the first world, 2:5 And spared not the old world,
but kept Noah, the eighth man, the but saved Noah the eighth person, a
before-goer of rightwiseness, and preacher of righteousness, bringing in
brought in the great flood to the world the flood upon the world of the
of unfaithful men [bringing in the deluge, ungodly;
or great flood, to the world of unpious men];

2:6 and he drove into powder [and 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom

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driving into powder] the cities of men of and Gomorrha into ashes condemned
Sodom and of men of Gomorrha, and them with an overthrow, making them an
condemned by turning upside-down, ensample unto those that after should
and put them the ensample of them live ungodly;
that were to doing evil [putting example of
them that were to doing evil, or unpiously];

2:7 and delivered the just Lot, 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed
oppressed of the wrong, and of the with the filthy conversation of the
lecherous conversation of cursed men; wicked:
2:8 for in sight and hearing he was 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling
just, and dwelled amongst them among them, in seeing and hearing,
[dwelling with them] that from day into vexed his righteous soul from day to day
day tormented with wicked works a just with their unlawful deeds;)
soul.
2:9 For the Lord knoweth how to 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver
deliver pious men from temptation, and the godly out of temptations, and to
keep wicked men into the day of doom reserve the unjust unto the day of
to be tormented; [The Lord knew to deliver judgment to be punished:
pious men of temptation, soothly to keep
wicked men into the day of doom to be
tormented;]

2:10 but more them that walk after 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after
the flesh, in coveting of uncleanness, the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and
and despise lordshipping, and be bold, despise government. Presumptuous are
pleasing themselves, and dread not to they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to
bring in sects, blaspheming; speak evil of dignities.

2:11 where angels, when they be more 2:11 Whereas angels, which are
in strength and virtue, bear not the greater in power and might, bring not
execrable doom against them [bear not railing accusation against them before
against them the execrable, or cursed, doom]. the Lord.
2:12 But these be as unreasonable 2:12 But these, as natural brute
beasts, naturally into taking [by kind into beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,
taking], and into death, blaspheming in speak evil of the things that they
these things that they know not, and understand not; and shall utterly perish
shall perish in their corruption, in their own corruption;

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2:13 and receive the hire of 2:13 And shall receive the reward of
unrightwiseness. And they guess unrighteousness, as they that count it
delights of defouling and of wem, to be pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots
likings of the day, flowing in their feasts they are and blemishes, sporting
with delights, doing lechery with you, themselves with their own deceivings
[receiving the hire of unrightwiseness, guessing while they feast with you;
the volupties of the day delights of defouling
and of wem, with delights flowing, in their
feasts doing lechery with you,]

2:14 and have eyes full of adultery, 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and
and unceasing trespass, deceiving that cannot cease from sin; beguiling
unsteadfast souls, and have the heart unstable souls: an heart they have
exercised to covetousness; the sons of exercised with covetous practices; cursed
cursing, [having eyes full of adultery, and children:
unceasing trespass, deceiving unsteadfast souls,
having the heart exercised in covetousness, the
sons of cursing,]

2:15 that forsake the right way, and 2:15 Which have forsaken the right
erred, following the way of Balaam of way, and are gone astray, following the
Bosor, which loved the hire of way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who
wickedness. loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2:16 But he had reproving of his 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity:
madness; a dumb beast under yoke, that the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
spake with voice of man, that forbade forbad the madness of the prophet.
the unwisdom of the prophet. [Soothly he
had correction, or reproving, of his madness; a
dumb beast under yoke, speaking with voice of
a man, forbade the unwisdom of the prophet.]

2:17 These be wells without water, 2:17 These are wells without water,
and mists driven with whirlwinds [and clouds that are carried with a tempest;
clouds driven with whirling winds], to whom to whom the mist of darkness is
the thick mist of darknesses is reserved. reserved for ever.

2:18 And they speak in pride of 2:18 For when they speak great
vanity, and deceive in desires of flesh of swelling words of vanity, they allure
lechery them, that escape a little. through the lusts of the flesh, through
Which live in error, much wantonness, those that were clean
escaped from them who live in error.

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2:19 and promise freedom to them 2:19 While they promise them liberty,
[promising liberty, or freedom, to them], when they themselves are the servants of
they be servants of corruption. For of corruption: for of whom a man is
whom any man is overcome, of him also overcome, of the same is he brought in
he is servant. bondage.
2:20 For if men forsake the 2:20 For if after they have escaped the
uncleannesses of the world, by the pollutions of the world through the
knowing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus knowledge of the Lord and Saviour
Christ, and again be wrapped in these Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
[again enwrapped in these], and be therein, and overcome, the latter end is
overcome, the latter things be made to worse with them than the beginning.
them worse than the former.
2:21 For it was better to them to not 2:21 For it had been better for them
know the way of rightwiseness, than to not to have known the way of
turn again after the knowing, from that righteousness, than, after they have
holy commandment that was betaken to known it, to turn from the holy
them. commandment delivered unto them.
2:22 For that very proverb befelled to 2:22 But it is happened unto them
them, The hound turned again to his according to the true proverb, The dog
vomit, or casting, and a sow is washed in is turned to his own vomit again; and
wallowing in fen. [Soothly that thing of the sow that was washed to her
very proverb befell to them, An hound turned wallowing in the mire.
again to his vomit, or casting up, and a sow
washed in the wallowing, or slough, of clay, or
fen.]

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

3:1 Lo! ye most dear-worthy 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I

brethren, I write to you this second now write unto you; in both which I stir
epistle [Lo! I write to you, most dear, this up your pure minds by way of
second epistle], in which I stir your clear remembrance:
soul by admonishing together,

3:2 that ye be mindful of those words 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the
[that ye be mindful of the words], that I words which were spoken before by the
before-said of the holy prophets, and of holy prophets, and of the
the commandments of the holy apostles commandment of us the apostles of the
of the Lord and Saviour. Lord and Saviour:

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3:3 First know ye this thing, that in 3:3 Knowing this first, that there
the last days deceivers shall come in shall come in the last days scoffers,
deceit [First knowing this thing, that in the walking after their own lusts,
last days scorners shall come in deceit], going
after their own covetings,
3:4 saying, Where is the promise, or 3:4 And saying, Where is the
the coming of him? for since the fathers promise of his coming? for since the
died, all things last from the beginning fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
of creature [for since fathers slept, either died, they were from the beginning of the
so all things last from the beginning of creation.
creature].

3:5 But it is hid from them willing 3:5 For this they willingly are
this thing, that heavens were before, ignorant of, that by the word of God
and the earth of water was standing by the heavens were of old, and the earth
water, by God's word [that heavens were standing out of the water and in the
first, and the earth of water and by water water:
being, or standing, together by God’s word];

3:6 by which [things] that same 3:6 Whereby the world that then
world cleansed, then by water perished. was, being overflowed with water,
perished:
3:7 But the heavens that now be, and 3:7 But the heavens and the earth,
the earth, be kept by the same word, which are now, by the same word are
and be reserved to fire into the day of kept in store, reserved unto fire against
doom and perdition of wicked men. the day of judgment and perdition of
[Forsooth the heavens that now be, and the ungodly men.
earth, by the same word put again, be kept to
fire into the day of doom and perdition of
unpious men.]

3:8 But, ye most dear, this one thing 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of
be not hid to you [be not unknown], that this one thing, that one day is with the
one day with God is as a thousand years, Lord as a thousand years, and a
and a thousand years be as one day [and a thousand years as one day.
thousand years as one day].

3:9 The Lord tarrieth not his 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning
promise, as some [men] guess, but he his promise, as some men count
doeth patiently for you, and will not slackness; but is longsuffering to us-

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that any man perish [not willing any to ward, not willing that any should
perish], but that all turn again to perish, but that all should come to
penance. repentance.

3:10 For the day of the Lord shall 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come
come as a thief, in which heavens with as a thief in the night; in the which the
great rush shall pass [in which heavens with heavens shall pass away with a great
great rush, or fierceness, shall pass], and noise, and the elements shall melt with
elements shall be dissolved by heat, and fervent heat, the earth also and the
the earth, and all the works that be in works that are therein shall be burned
it, shall be burnt. up.
3:11 Therefore when all these things 3:11 Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner men shall be dissolved, what manner of
behooveth it you to be in holy livings persons ought ye to be in all holy
and piety [in holy livings and pieties], conversation and godliness,
3:12 abiding and hieing into the 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of our Lord Jesus coming of the day of God, wherein the
Christ, by whom heavens burning shall heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
be dissolved, and elements shall fail by and the elements shall melt with fervent
burning of fire [+by which heavens burning heat?
shall be dissolved, and elements shall fail by
burning, or heat, of fire].

3:13 Also we abide by his promises 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his
[Soothly we abide after his promise] new promise, look for new heavens and a
heavens and new earth, in which new earth, wherein dwelleth
rightwiseness dwelleth. righteousness.
3:14 For which thing, ye most dear, 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that
abiding these things, be ye busy to be ye look for such things, be diligent that
found to him in peace unspotted and ye may be found of him in peace,
undefouled [in peace unspotted and without spot, and blameless.
unfouled].

3:15 And deem ye long abiding of our 3:15 And account that the
Lord Jesus Christ your health, as also longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
our most dear brother Paul wrote to even as our beloved brother Paul also
you, by wisdom given to him. [And deem according to the wisdom given unto
ye the long abiding of our Lord your health, as him hath written unto you;
and our most dear brother Paul wrote to you,

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after wisdom given to him.]

3:16 As and in all his epistles he 3:16 As also in all his epistles,
speaketh in them of these things; in speaking in them of these things; in
which be some hard things to which are some things hard to be
understand, which unwise and unstable understood, which they that are
men deprave [As and in all epistles he unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
speaking in them of these things; in which be also the other scriptures, unto their own
some hard things in understanding, the which destruction.
unwise, or untaught, and unstable men
deprave], as also they do other scriptures,
to their own perdition.
3:17 Therefore ye, brethren, before- 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye
witting keep yourselves, lest ye be know these things before, beware lest ye
deceived by error of unwise men, and also, being led away with the error of
fall away from your own firmness. the wicked, fall from your own
[Therefore ye, brethren, before-witting keep stedfastness.
yourselves, lest ye over-led, or deceived, by error
of unwise men, fall away from your own
firmness.]

3:18 But wax ye in the grace and the 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the
knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
our Saviour; to him be glory now and Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now
into the day of everlastingness. Amen. and for ever. Amen.

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