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，
I indeed, beloved, write unto you this second epistle; in which I stir up your pure mind by 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。
to remember the words which have been spoken hitherto by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour by 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 at the last days mockers will come forth in scoffing, walking according to 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 when the fathers fell asleep, all things remain as from the beginning of 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 they willingly forget this, that the heavens were in the olden time, and the earth standing out of the water and through the 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 the world at that time, being flooded 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 now the heavens and the earth have been kept according to the same word, being reserved for fire in the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.
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 let not this one thing be forgotten, beloved, that one day with the Lord is 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 people count slackness; but is long-suffering for your sakes, not wishing that any should perish, but all 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 like a thief; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements being scorched up will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be burnt 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，
Then all these things being dissolved, what kind of people does it behoove you to be in holy deportment 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 hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements being scorched up are melted?
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 promises, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells.
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；
Therefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless unto him in peace:
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 consider the longsuffering of the Lord's salvation; as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom which was given unto him has written 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 the same concerning these things; in which there are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unestablished wrest, as they also do the other scriptures, to 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。
Then you, beloved, foreknowing watch, lest, having been led away by the delusion of the ungodly, you may fall from your own stedfastness:
The World is Destroyed by Water
