彼得後書 3
1 親愛的諸位！這已是我給你們寫的第二封信，在這兩封信中，我都用提醒的話，來鼓勵你們應有赤誠的心，
This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;
2 叫你們想起聖先知們以前說過的話，以及你們的宗徒們傳授的主和救世者的誡命。
that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:
3 首先你們該知道：在末日要出現一些愛嘲笑戲弄，按照自己的私慾生活的人，
knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,
4 他們說：「那裏有他所應許的來臨？因為自從我們的父老長眠以來，一切照舊存在，全如創造之初一樣。」
and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 他們故意忘記了：在太古之時，因天主的話，就有了天，也有了由水中出現，並在水中而存在的地；
For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;
6 又因天主的話和水，當時的世界為水所淹沒而消滅了；
by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 甚至連現有的天地，還是因天主的話得以保存，直存到審判及惡人喪亡的日子，被火焚燒。
but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 親愛的諸位，惟有這一件事你們不可忘記：就是在天主前一日如千年，千年如一日。
But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 主決不遲延他的應許，有如某些人所想像的；其實是他對妳們含忍，不願任何人喪亡，只願眾人回心轉意。
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 可是，主的日子必要如盜賊一樣來到；在那一日，天要轟然過去，所有的原質都要因烈火而溶化，大地及其中所有的工程，也都要被焚毀。
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 這一切既然都要這樣消失，那麼，你們應該怎樣以聖潔和虔敬的態度生活，
Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in [all] holy living and godliness,
12 以等候並催促天主日子的來臨！在這日子上，天要為火所焚毀，所有的原質也要因烈火而溶化；
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 可是，我們卻按照他的應許，等候正義常住在其中的新天新地。
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 為此，親愛的諸位，你們既然等候這一切，就應該勉力，使他見到你們沒有玷污，沒有瑕疵，安然無懼；
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
15 並應以我們主的容忍當作得救的機會；這也是我們可愛的弟兄保祿，本著賜與他的智慧，曾給你們寫過的；
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
16 也正如他在談論這些事時，在一切書信內所寫過的。在這些書信內，有些難懂的地方，不學無術和站立不穩的人，便加以曲解，一如曲解其他經典一樣，而自趨喪亡。
as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 所以，親愛的諸位，你們既預先知道了這些事，就應該提防，免得為不法之徒的錯謬所誘惑，而由自己的堅固立場跌下來。
Ye therefore, beloved, knowing [these things] beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.
The Great Flood
