Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁵ Behold ye among the nations, and see: wonder, and be astonished: for a work is done in your days, which no man will believe when it shall be told.

⁶ For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift nation, marching upon the breadth of the earth, to possess the dwelling places that are not their own.

⁷ They are dreadful, and terrible: from themselves shall their judgment, and their burden proceed.

⁸ Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to eat.

⁹ They shall all come to the prey, their face is like a burning wind: and they shall gather together captives as the sand.

¹⁰ And their prince shall triumph over kings, and princes shall be his laughingstock: and he shall laugh at every strong hold, and shall cast up a mount, and shall take it.

¹¹ Then shall his spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: this is his strength of his god.

¹² Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made him strong for correction.

¹³ Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself?

¹⁴ And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler.

¹⁵ He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice.

¹⁶ Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty.

¹⁷ For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations.

1 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.

² Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord:

³ 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.

⁴ 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.

⁵ And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge;

⁶ And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness;

⁷ And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

⁸ 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.

⁹ For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.