2 Peter 3

1 This, already, beloved, is the second letter I am writing unto you; and, in these letters, I am stirring up—by way of calling to remembrance—your uncorrupted mind,

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 remember the fore-spoken declarations made by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour, by your apostles.

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 Of this, first, taking note—that there will come, in the last of the days, with scoffing, scoffers, after their own covetings, going on,

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 presence? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things, thus remain, from the beginning of 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, willfully, forget—that there were, heavens, from of old, and, an earth, on account of water and by means of water, compacted, by God’s word, —

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 By which means, the world that then was, with water being flooded, perished;

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

7 While, the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word, have been stored with fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly 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 But, this one thing, forget not, beloved, —that, one day, with the Lord, is as a thousand years, and, a 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 slack, concerning his promise, as some count, slackness; but is long-suffering with regard to you, not being minded that any should perish, but that, all, unto repentance, should come.

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 Howbeit the day of the Lord will be here, as a thief, —in which, the heavens, with a rushing noise, will pass away, while, elements, becoming intensely hot, will be dissolved, and, earth, and the works therein, will be discovered.

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 Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons, ought [ye] all the while to be, in holy ways of behaviour and acts of godliness, —

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 Expecting and hastening the presence of the day of God, by reason of which, heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and, elements, becoming intensely hot, are to be melted;

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 But, new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell.

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

14 Wherefore, beloved, these things, expecting—give diligence, unspotted and unblemished, by him, to be found, 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 account, our Lord’s long suffering, [to be] salvation: —even as, our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto 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 letters, speaking in them concerning these things, —in which [letters] are some things, hard to be understood, which, the uninstructed and unstable, wrest, —as also the other scriptures, —unto 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 Ye, therefore, beloved, taking note beforehand, be on your guard, lest, with the error of the impious being led away, ye 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 But be growing in the favour and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: —unto whom be the glory, both now and unto a day that abideth. (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