2 Peter 3
1 This second letter, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
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，
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
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。
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
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，
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
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。」
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
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；
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
又因天主的話和水，當時的世界為水所淹沒而消滅了；
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
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。
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
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。
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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。
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
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。
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
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，
12 Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
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；
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
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。
14 Why, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
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；
15 And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you;
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；
16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
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。
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
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。
The Great Flood
