2 Peter 3
1 This [is] now, beloved, a second letter I write to you, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding [you]
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 to be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command 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 will come scoffers in the last days, going on according to their own desires,
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 so remain 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 conceal, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth having been established by the word of God out of water and through 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 through which the world then, having been flooded by water, was destroyed;
又因天主的話和水，當時的世界為水所淹沒而消滅了；
7 and by the same word, the present heavens and earth, having been stored up for fire, are being preserved until [the] day of judgment and destruction of impious 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 And do not let this one thing be concealed from you, beloved, that one day with the LORD [is] as one thousand years and one 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 slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not intending any to be lost, but all to come to conversion,
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 and it will come—the Day of the LORD—as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will be dissolved with burning heat, and [the] earth and the works in it will not be found.
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 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons ought you to be in holy behaviors and pious acts,
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 waiting for and hurrying the coming of the Day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with burning 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 And we wait for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells;
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 for this reason, beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, to be found by Him in peace,
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 count the long-suffering of our Lord [as] salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul—according to the wisdom given to him—wrote 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 the letters, speaking in them concerning these things, among which are some things [that are] hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable twist, as also the other Writings, 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, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, you may 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
