2 Peter 3
1 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,
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 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.
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 Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.
First of all, you must understand that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.
4 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.”
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 They willfully forget that the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, long ago, by God's command,
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 and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
And by the water and the word, the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives.
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 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.
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 according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
But, according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
Therefore, beloved, as you wait for these things, be diligent to be found at peace, spotless and blameless in his sight.
15 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
The World is Destroyed by Water
