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.

Simon Petrus, servus et apostolus Jesu Christi, iis qui coæqualem nobiscum sortiti sunt fidem in justitia Dei nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who share with us the common privilege of faith, justified as we are by our God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord:

Gratia vobis, et pax adimpleatur in cognitione Dei, et Christi Jesu Domini nostri:

Grace and peace be yours abundantly, as you gain fuller knowledge of God, and of Christ Jesus our Lord.

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.

Quomodo omnia nobis divinæ virtutis suæ, quæ ad vitam et pietatem donata sunt, per cognitionem ejus, qui vocavit nos propria gloria, et virtute,

See how all the gifts that make for life and holiness in us belong to his divine power; come to us through fuller knowledge of him, whose own glory and sovereignty have drawn us to himself!

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.

per quem maxima, et pretiosa nobis promissa donavit: ut per hæc efficiamini divinæ consortes naturæ: fugientes ejus, quæ in mundo est, concupiscentiæ corruptionem.

Through him God has bestowed on us high and treasured promises; you are to share the divine nature, with the world’s corruption, the world’s passions, left behind.

And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge;

Vos autem curam omnem subinferentes, ministrate in fide vestra virtutem, in virtute autem scientiam,

And you too have to contribute every effort on your own part, crowning your faith with virtue, and virtue with enlightenment,

And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness;

in scientia autem abstinentiam, in abstinentia autem patientiam, in patientia autem pietatem,

and enlightenment with continence, and continence with endurance, and endurance with holiness,

And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

in pietate autem amorem fraternitatis, in amore autem fraternitatis caritatem.

and holiness with brotherly love, and brotherly love with charity.

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.

Hæc enim si vobiscum adsint, et superent, non vacuos nec sine fructu vos constituent in Domini nostri Jesu Christi cognitione.

Such gifts, when they are yours in full measure, will make you quick and successful pupils, reaching ever closer knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;

For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Cui enim non præsto sunt hæc, cæcus est, et manu tentans, oblivionem accipiens purgationis veterum suorum delictorum.

he who lacks them is no better than a blind man feeling his way about; his old sins have been purged away, and he has forgotten it.

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.

Quapropter fratres, magis satagite ut per bona opera certam vestram vocationem, et electionem faciatis: hæc enim facientes, non peccabitis aliquando.

Bestir yourselves then, brethren, ever more eagerly, to ratify God’s calling and choice of you by a life well lived; if you do this, you will make no false step,

For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Sic enim abundanter ministrabitur vobis introitus in æternum regnum Domini nostri et Salvatoris Jesu Christi.

and it will be no grudging entrance that is afforded to you into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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.

Propter quod incipiam vos semper commonere de his: et quidem scientes et confirmatos vos in præsenti veritate.

I shall never fail, then, to go on reminding you of this, although you know it well, and are firmly grounded in a truth that is present to your minds.

But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.

Justum autem arbitror quamdiu sum in hoc tabernaculo, suscitare vos in commonitione:

I hold it my duty to keep the memory awake in you, while I am still in this brief dwelling-place;

Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me.

certus quod velox est depositio tabernaculi mei secundum quod et Dominus noster Jesus Christus significavit mihi.

I am assured, by what our Lord Jesus Christ has made known to me, that I must fold my tent before long.

And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things.

Dabo autem operam et frequenter habere vos post obitum meum, ut horum memoriam faciatis.

And I will see to it that, when I am gone, you shall always be able to remember what I have been saying.

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.

Non enim doctas fabulas secuti notam fecimus vobis Domini nostri Jesu Christi virtutem et præsentiam: sed speculatores facti illius magnitudinis.

We were not crediting fables of man’s invention, when we preached to you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and about his coming; we had been eye-witnesses of his exaltation.

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.

Accipiens enim a Deo Patre honorem et gloriam, voce delapsa ad eum hujuscemodi a magnifica gloria: Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi complacui, ipsum audite.

Such honour, such glory was bestowed on him by God the Father, that a voice came to him out of the splendour which dazzles human eyes; This, it said, is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; to him, then, listen.

And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Et hanc vocem nos audivimus de cælo allatam, cum essemus cum ipso in monte sancto.

We, his companions on the holy mountain, heard that voice coming from heaven,

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:

Et habemus firmiorem propheticum sermonem: cui benefacitis attendentes quasi lucernæ lucenti in caliginoso loco donec dies elucescat, et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris:

and now the word of the prophets gives us more confidence than ever. It is with good reason that you are paying so much attention to that word; it will go on shining, like a lamp in some darkened room, until the dawn breaks, and the day-star rises in your hearts.

Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation.

hoc primum intelligentes quod omnis prophetia Scripturæ propria interpretatione non fit.

Yet always you must remember this, that no prophecy in scripture is the subject of private interpretation.

For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Non enim voluntate humana allata est aliquando prophetia: sed Spiritu Sancto inspirati, locuti sunt sancti Dei homines.

It was never man’s impulse, after all, that gave us prophecy; men gave it utterance, but they were men whom God had sanctified, carried away, as they spoke, by the Holy Spirit.