2 Peter 3

1 Beloved, this second epistle I now write to you, in which epistles I stir up your sincere mind to remembrance:

This is now my second letter to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your pure minds by putting you in remembrance.

2 to be mindful of the words before spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour.

I want you to recollect the words that were foretold by the holy prophets, and the command of your Lord and Saviour, given you through your apostles.

3 Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking after their own lusts,

Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days, in their mockery, men who walk the way of their own lusts

4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as at the beginning of the creation.

and say, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the day that our fathers fell asleep everything continues as it was from the beginning of the creation."

5 But this willfully escapes them, that, by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth subsisting from the water, and by water:

For they willingly ignore the fact that there were heaven, from of old, and an earth formed out of water and through water, by the word of God;

6 by which the world that then was, being deluged with water, perished.

and that by the same means the world which then existed was destroyed by a deluge of water.

7 But the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured up, being kept for fire to a day of judgment, and destruction of ungodly men.

But the heavens and earth that now are, by the same word of God, have been reserved for fire, and are being kept for the Day of Judgment, and for the destruction of ungodly men.

8 But this one thing, let it not escape you, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Do not forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord does not delay his promise in the manner some account delaying; but he exercises long-suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to reformation.

The Lord does not loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loitering; but he is longsuffering toward you, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should pass on to repentance.

10 However, as thief, the day of the Lord will come; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements burning shall be dissolved; and the earth, and the works that are upon it, shall be utterly burned.

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; and on that Day the heavens will vanish with a crash, the heavenly bodies will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and all its works will be burned up.

11 Seeing, then, all these things shall be dissolved; --what sort of persons ought you to be, in holy behavior and godliness,

Now since all things are in the process of dissolution, what kind of men ought you to be, in all holy living and piety;

12 expecting and earnestly desiring, the coming of the day of God; in which the heavens being set on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements burning, shall be melted?

while you look for and hasten the coming of the Day of God. At its coming the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt with fervent heat.

13 But we, according to his promise, expect new heavens, and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

But according to his promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness makes her dwelling.

14 Wherefore, beloved, expecting these things, diligently endeavor to be found of him spotless, and irreproachable, in peace.

And so, beloved, since you are looking for these things, continually give diligence that you may be found in peace, unspotted and blameless in his sight.

15 And reckon the long-suffering of our Lord, to be for salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.

Regard our Lord’s longsuffering as salvation; even as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him.

16 As, indeed, in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things: in which there are some things hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

It is the same in all his letters when he speaks of these things. There are indeed some things in his letters hard to understand, which the ignorant and the shifty wrest, as also they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, beloved, foreknowing these things, be on your guard; lest being also carried away by the deceit of the lawless, you fall from your own steadfastness.

Do you therefore, beloved, because you know these things beforehand, be on your guard lest you be led astray by the error of the wicked, and so fall from your own stedfastness.

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

But grow continually in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and unto the Day of Eternity, Amen. (aiōn g165)

The World is Destroyed by Water