2 Peter 3
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by 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 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles:
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 in the last days scoffers will come, mocking and 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, from the day that 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 willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God;
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 by which means the world that then was, being deluged with 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 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
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 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.
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 concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing 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 which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works on 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 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living 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 earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will 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 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, 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 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.
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 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, 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 of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to 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, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you 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 World is Destroyed by Water
