2 Peter 3

1 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.

Beloved, this is now the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them they are reminders to stir up your sincere mind,

2 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.

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

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

Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.

4 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."

They will say, “Where is the promise of his return? From when our fathers fell asleep, all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creation.”

5 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;

They willfully forget that the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, long ago, by God's command,

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

and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 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.

But now the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire by that same command. They are reserved for the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.

8 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.

It should not escape your notice, beloved, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

9 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.

The Lord does not move slowly concerning his promises, as some consider slowness to be. Instead, he is patient toward you. He does not desire for any of you to perish, but for everyone to make room for repentance.

10 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.

However, the day of the Lord will come as a thief: The heavens will pass away with a loud noise. The elements will be burned with fire, and the earth and the deeds in it will be revealed.

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

Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives.

12 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.

You should expect and hasten the coming of the day of God. On that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will be melted in great heat.

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

But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

14 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.

Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.

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

Also, consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him.

16 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.

Paul speaks of these things in all his letters, in which there are things that are difficult to understand. Ignorant and unstable men distort these things, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 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.

Therefore, beloved, since you know about these things beforehand, guard yourselves so that you are not led astray by the deceit of lawless people and you lose your own faithfulness.

18 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)

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

The World is Destroyed by Water