But you are a chosen people,(A) a royal priesthood,(B) a holy nation,(C) God’s special possession,(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(E) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(F) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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for you are a people holy(A) to the Lord your God.(B) Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.(C)

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Living for God

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(B) As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(C) but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(E) They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(F) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(G) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(H) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near.(I) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(J) so that you may pray.

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16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,(A) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.(B) 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[a](C) 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.(D)

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,(E) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light(F) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns(G) and the morning star(H) rises in your hearts.(I) 20 Above all, you must understand(J) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God(K) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:17 Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35

Above all, you must understand that in the last days(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(B) They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(C) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(D) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(E) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(F) By these waters also the world of that time(G) was deluged and destroyed.(H) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(I) being kept for the day of judgment(J) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(K) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(L) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(M) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(N)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(O) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(P) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(Q) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](R)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(S) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](T) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(U) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(V) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(W) and at peace with him.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.(A) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(B) them.(C) 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away(D) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(E) and filled the whole earth.(F)

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