2 Peter 3
1 Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking
朋友们，这是我写给你们的第二封信。在这两封信中，我都在试图激发你们，提醒你们用纯净的思想进行清晰的思考。
2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
记住以往圣先知们说的话，以及主和救世主通过你们的使徒做出的嘱咐。
3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
首先应该要知道：在末世必有讥讽之人，他们充满嘲讽之心，追随自己的邪恶欲望。
4 “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
“那么他要降临的承诺哪去了？”他们问。“从我们祖先去世的那一刻，一切都像从创世之日开始往常一样继续。”
5 But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
但是他们故意忽略一个事实：天空是上帝下令在很久以前创造的。大地诞生于水，被水包围。
6 through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
水摧毁了当时存在的世界，那个世界被水淹没。
7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
但是通过同样的神圣命令，眼前存在的天地被保留下来，留待审判之日被火毁灭，那时恶人也会被毁灭。
8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
但我的朋友们，别忘记：对主而言一天就像一千年，一千年就像一天。
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
主并没有像某些人以为的那样，将其承诺拖后，而是对你们非常耐心。他不希望任何人迷失，而是希望每个人都过来，都悔改。
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
但主的日子终将到来，就像盗贼一样出乎意料。天堂将在雷鸣般的轰鸣中爆炸，所有元素将被焚烧和毁灭。地球和大地上的一切都将消失。
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
既然一切都将如此毁灭，你应该是哪种人？你应该过着纯洁的生活，献身于上帝，
12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
期待并渴望上帝之日的到来。在那一天，天空会燃起大火并被毁灭，所有元素都会在高温中融化。
13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
但对我们而言，我们正在寻找上帝所承诺新天和新地，那里的一切都如此良善正直。
14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
所以我的朋友们，既然你已经预料到这一切，请确保在看到你时，你是纯洁而无可指责的，与上帝和平相处。
15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.
请记住，是我们主的耐心给了我们救赎的机会。我们亲爱的兄弟保罗在他所有的书信中，曾用上帝赐予他的智慧向你解释了这一切。
16 He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
他谈到了这些事情，尽管他所写的部分内容肯定很难理解。一些无知和不平衡之人歪曲他所写的内容，这让他们自己蒙受损失，正如他们歪曲其他经文。
17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
我的朋友们，既然你们已经知道了这些，就不要让恶人的错误引你们误入歧途，不要从自己牢固的位置上跌落。
The World is Destroyed by Water
