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]

Beloved, this is now the second letter that I am writing to you. In both of them I have tried to stir up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

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,

so that you remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.

3 knowing this first, that there will come scoffers in the last days, going on according to their own desires,

First of all, you must understand that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.

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”;

They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has since the beginning of creation.”

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,

They deliberately overlook the fact that by the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth emerged through the water and was separated from the water.

6 through which the world then, having been flooded by water, was destroyed;

And by the water and the word, the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

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.

Furthermore, by his word the heavens and the earth that now exist have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly.

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;

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

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,

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

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.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons ought you to be in holy behaviors and pious acts,

Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what sort of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness,

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?

waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God. On that day the heavens will be set on fire and destroyed, and the elements will melt in the intense heat.

13 And we wait for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells;

But, according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 for this reason, beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, to be found by Him in peace,

Therefore, beloved, as you wait for these things, be diligent to be found at peace, spotless and blameless in his sight.

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,

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.

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.

He speaks about these things in all his letters. Some of the things he says are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people twist to their own destruction, just as they do with the other Scriptures.

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,

Therefore, beloved, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you will not be led astray by the error of these lawless men and fall from your own secure position.

18 and increase in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him [is] the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen. (aiōn g165)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (aiōn g165)

The World is Destroyed by Water