A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed

¹⁸ In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will ^(A)speak the language of Canaan and ^(B)swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of ^[a]Destruction.

¹⁹ In that day ^(C)there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the ^(D)Lord at its border. ²⁰ And ^(E)it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a ^(F)Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. ²¹ Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will ^(G)know the Lord in that day, and ^(H)will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. ²² And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and ^(I)heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.

²³ In that day ^(J)there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will ^(K)serve with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria ^(L)the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

^2 (A)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His ^(B)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ^(C)who called us by glory and virtue, ^4 (D)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be ^(E)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ^[a]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵ But also for this very reason, ^(F)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue ^(G)knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[b]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and ^(H)to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[c]barren ^(I)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is ^(J)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent ^(K)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter’s Approaching Death

¹² For this reason ^(L)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, ^(M)though you know and are established in the present truth. ¹³ Yes, I think it is right, ^(N)as long as I am in this ^[d]tent, ^(O)to stir you up by reminding you, ^14 (P)knowing that shortly I must ^[e]put off my tent, just as ^(Q)our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. ¹⁵ Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my ^[f]decease.