2 Peter 3

1 This letter that I am now writing to you whom I love, is the second [letter] that I have written to you. [In both] these letters I have reminded you [about the things you already know, in order that I may] stimulate/cause you to think sincerely [about those things].

Nɔvi lɔlɔ̃awo, esia nye nye agbalẽ evelia na mi. Meŋlɔ agbalẽ siawo na mi be woanye ŋkuɖodzinu si ade dzo mia me be miaƒe tamesusuwo nanɔ blibo.

2 [I want you] to remember the words that were spoken by the holy prophets {that the holy prophets spoke} long ago, and also to remember what our Lord and Savior commanded, things that we, your apostles, told you about.

Medi be miaɖo ŋku nya siwo Mawu ƒe nyagblɔɖila kɔkɔewo gblɔ na mi va yi kple se si míaƒe Aƒetɔ kple Ɖela de na mi to miaƒe apostolowo dzi la dzi.

3 It is important for you to understand that in the time [immediately] before Christ comes back, there will be people who will ridicule [the idea of his coming back. Those people will do whatever] evil things they wish to do.

Gbã la, ele be miase egɔme be le ŋkeke mamlɛawo me la, fewuɖulawo ava, anɔ fewu ɖum, eye woadze woawo ŋutɔ ƒe nudzodzro vɔ̃wo yome.

4 They will say, “[Although it was] promised [that Christ] will come back, ([nothing has happened that would indicate] that he is coming back./[what happened to the promise] that he is coming back?) [RHQ] We say that because ever since the [Christian] leaders [who lived] long ago died [EUP], everything [has remained the same]. Things are as [they always have been] since God created [the world!]”

Woagblɔ be, “Afi ka eƒe ‘vava’ ƒe ŋugbedodo la le? Elabena tso ɣe aɖe ɣi ke, esi mía fofowo ku la, nu sia nu le edzi yim abe ale si wònɔ le gɔmedzedzea me ene.”

5 [They will say that because] they (deliberately overlook [the fact/have decided to ignore what they know]) that God, by commanding [long ago that it should be so], caused the heavens to exist, and he caused the earth to appear out of water and to be separate from the water.

Ke woɖoe koŋ heŋlɔ be be gbe aɖe gbe ʋĩi ke wotsɔ Mawu ƒe nya wɔ dziƒo, eye wowɔ anyigba tso tsi me kple tsi.

6 And God, by [commanding that it should be so], later destroyed the world [that existed] at that time, by causing the earth to be flooded with water {water to flood the earth}.

To tsi sia ke dzi wotsrɔ̃ xexe si nɔ anyi ɣe ma ɣi le esi woxɔ beble dzi se ta.

7 Furthermore, [God], commanded that the heavens and the earth [that exist] now remain until the time when [he] will judge (ungodly people/people whose lives are not pleasing to him). And at that time [he] will destroy the heavens and the earth by burning them.

To Mawu ƒe nya sia ke dzi wodzra fifi dziƒo kple anyigba ɖo na dzo, eye woɖoe da ɖi na ʋɔnudrɔ̃gbe la kple mawumavɔ̃lawo ƒe tsɔtsrɔ̃.

8 Dear friends, I want you to understand well that the Lord [God is willing to wait a long time to judge the people in the world! How much time passes before] the Lord God [judges the people in the world does not matter to him! He considers] that one day [passes no more quickly than] 1,000 years, and [he also considers] that 1,000 years [pass as quickly as] one day passes [to us]!

Ke nɔvi lɔlɔ̃wo, migaŋlɔ nu ɖeka sia be o, ŋkeke ɖeka le Aƒetɔ la gbɔ le abe ƒe akpe ɖeka ene, eye nenema ke ƒe akpe ɖeka le abe ŋkeke ɖeka ene.

9 [Therefore, you should not think that because Christ has not yet come back to judge people], the Lord God is (delaying/slow to do) what he promised. Some people think that this is so, [and they say that Christ will never come back]. But [you should understand that the reason why Christ has not yet come back to judge people is that] God is being patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be lost [eternally]. Instead, he wants everyone to turn away from their sinful behavior.

Aƒetɔ la mele wɔwɔm blewublewu le eƒe ŋugbedodo la me abe ale si ame aɖewo se blewu gɔmee ene o. Egbɔ dzi ɖi na mi, elabena medi be ame aɖeke natsrɔ̃ o, ke boŋ be amewo katã natrɔ dzi me.

10 Although [God is being patient, at] the time [MTY] [that he has chosen], the Lord [Jesus Christ] will [certainly] come back [to judge people]. He will come back [unexpectedly], like a thief [SIM] [comes unexpectedly]. At that time there will be a great roaring sound. The heavens will cease to exist. (The elements/The parts [of which the universe consists]) will be destroyed by fire, and the earth [that God made] and everything on it [that people have made] will disappear (OR, will be burned up).

Ke Aƒetɔ ƒe ŋkeke la ava abe fiafitɔ ene. Dziƒowo nu ava yi kple gbeɖeɖe gã aɖe, woatsrɔ̃ gɔmeɖonuwo kple dzo, eye anyigba kple edzinuwo katã abi keŋkeŋ.

11 Because God will certainly destroy all these things like [I just said], you certainly know how you should behave. [RHQ] You should behave (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God])

Esi woatsrɔ̃ nu sia nu alea la, ame ka ƒomeviwo wòle be mianye? Ele be mianɔ agbe le kɔkɔenyenye kple mawuvɔvɔ̃ me,

12 while you [eagerly/expectantly] wait for [Christ] to return on the day that God [has chosen] [MTY], and you should try to make that day come soon. Because of what [God] [PRS] [will do on that day], the heavens will be destroyed. (The elements/The parts of which the universe consist) will melt and burn up.

esi miele mɔ kpɔm na Mawu ƒe ŋkeke la, hele du dom eƒe vava. Ŋkeke sia ƒe vava ana woatsrɔ̃ dziƒowo kple dzo, eye emenuwo alolõ le dzoxɔxɔ la me.

13 Although [all those events/things will happen, we rejoice because] we are waiting for the new heavens and new earth that [God] has promised. The [only people who will be] in the new heavens and on this new earth will be [people who are] [PRS] righteous.

Ke le eƒe ŋugbedodo la nu, míele mɔ kpɔm na dziƒo yeye kple anyigba yeye, afi si anye dzɔdzɔenyenyeteƒe la.

14 Therefore, dear friends, because you are waiting for these things [to happen], do all that you can [live] (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God]), [in order that Christ] will see that you [are] completely pure [DOU] [and that you are living] peacefully [with each other].

Eya ta nɔvi lɔlɔ̃wo, esi miele mɔ kpɔm na esia la, miɖe afɔ ɖe sia ɖe si miate ŋui la, be woakpɔ mi ɖimaƒomaƒoe, mokakamanɔŋutɔe, eye mianɔ ŋutifafa me kplii.

15 And think about this: Our Lord [Jesus Christ is] patient [because he wants] people to be saved. Our dear (brother/fellow believer) Paul also wrote wise words to you [about these same matters], because God enabled him to understand [these] ([events/things that will happen]).

Nenɔ susu me na mi be míaƒe Aƒetɔ la ƒe dzigbɔɖi nye miaƒe ɖeɖe, abe ale si mía nɔvi lɔlɔ̃ Paulo ŋlɔ na mi kple nunya si Mawu nɛ la ene.

16 In the [letters] that Paul wrote there are certain things that are difficult for people to understand. People [who are spiritually] ignorant and (unstable/do not believe firmly in Christ) interpret these things wrongly, as they also (interpret/explain the meaning of) the other parts of the Scriptures wrongly. The result is that they will destroy themselves [spiritually], and [God] will punish them.

Eŋlɔ nu siawo ɖe eƒe agbalẽwo katã me, eye wòƒoa nu tso nu siawo katã ŋu. Nanewo le eƒe agbalẽawo me siwo ƒe gɔmesese sesẽ, esi ame manyanuwo kple ame malikewo blua afɔ na, abe ale si wowɔna na mawunya bubuwo hã ene, hena woawo ŋutɔ ƒe tsɔtsrɔ̃.

17 Therefore, dear friends, [since you already know about those who teach what is false], (guard against them/beware). Do not let those wicked people deceive you by telling you things that are wrong, with the result that you yourselves begin to doubt [what you now firmly believe].

Eya ta nɔvi lɔlɔ̃wo, esi mienya esia xoxo la, minɔ ŋudzɔ be sedzimawɔlawo ƒe nu tovo wɔwɔ makplɔ mi adzoe, be miage le teƒe si mieli ke ɖo la o.

18 [Instead, live in such a manner that you] experience more and more our Savior Jesus Christ being kind [to you], and that you get to know him [better and better]. 2 Peter 3:18b [I pray/desire that Jesus Christ] will be honored both now and forever! (aiōn g165)

Ke mitsi le amenuveve kple sidzedze míaƒe Aƒetɔ kple Ɖela Yesu Kristo me. Eya ko tɔ anye ŋutikɔkɔe tso fifia yi ɖe mavɔmavɔ me! Amen. (aiōn g165)

The World is Destroyed by Water