<t /><p class="bodytext">I can pray this because his divine power<n id="1" /> has bestowed on us everything necessary<n id="2" /> for life and godliness through the rich knowledge<n id="3" /> of the one who called<n id="4" /> us by<n id="5" /> his own glory and excellence.

For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.

and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless<n id="1" /> men,<n id="2" />

And many will follow their debauched lifestyles.<n id="1" /> Because of these false teachers,<n id="2" /> the way of truth will be slandered.<n id="3" />

Although these false teachers promise<n id="1" /> such people<n id="2" /> freedom, they themselves are enslaved to<n id="3" /> immorality.<n id="4" /> For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return<n id="1" /> of our Lord Jesus Christ;<n id="2" /> no,<n id="3" /> we were<n id="4" /> eyewitnesses of his<n id="5" /> grandeur.<n id="6" />

They are illustrations of this true proverb:<n id="1" /> &#8220;<b><i>A dog returns to its own vomiti>b>,&#8221;<n id="2" /> and &#8220;A sow, after washing herself,<n id="3" /> wallows in the mire.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

I want you to recall<n id="1" /> both<n id="2" /> the predictions<n id="3" /> foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.<n id="4" />

and saying,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Where is his promised return?<n id="2" /> For ever since<n id="3" /> our ancestors<n id="4" /> died,<n id="5" /> all things have continued as they were<n id="6" /> from the beginning of creation.&#8221;

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise,<n id="1" /> as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish<n id="2" /> for any<n id="3" /> to perish but for all to come to repentance.<n id="4" />

while waiting for and hastening<n id="1" /> the coming of the day of God?<n id="2" /> Because of this day,<n id="3" /> the heavens will be burned up and<n id="4" /> dissolve, and the celestial bodies<n id="5" /> will melt away in a blaze!<n id="6" />

Through these things<n id="1" /> he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised<n id="2" /> you may become partakers of the divine nature,<n id="3" /> after escaping<n id="4" /> the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.<n id="5" />

For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that<n id="1" /> voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: &#8220;This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.&#8221;<n id="2" />