< 2 Peter 3 >
1 This, now, beloved, a second letter to you I write, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding [you],
Beloved, this second epistle I now write to you, in which epistles I stir up your sincere mind to remembrance:
2 to be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour,
to be mindful of the words before spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
3 this first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,
Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking after their own lusts,
4 and saying, 'Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'
and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as at the beginning of the creation.
5 for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,
But this willfully escapes them, that, by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth subsisting from the water, and by water:
6 through which the then world, by water having been deluged, was destroyed;
by which the world that then was, being deluged with water, perished.
7 and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.
But the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured up, being kept for fire to a day of judgment, and destruction of ungodly men.
8 And this one thing let not be unobserved by you, beloved, that one day with the Lord [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day;
But this one thing, let it not escape you, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 the Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not counselling any to be lost but all to pass on to reformation,
The Lord does not delay his promise in the manner some account delaying; but he exercises long-suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to reformation.
10 and it will come — the day of the Lord — as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.
However, as thief, the day of the Lord will come; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements burning shall be dissolved; and the earth, and the works that are upon it, shall be utterly burned.
11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?
Seeing, then, all these things shall be dissolved; --what sort of persons ought you to be, in holy behavior and godliness,
12 waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;
expecting and earnestly desiring, the coming of the day of God; in which the heavens being set on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements burning, shall be melted?
13 and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;
But we, according to his promise, expect new heavens, and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.
14 wherefore, beloved, these things waiting for, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, by Him to be found in peace,
Wherefore, beloved, expecting these things, diligently endeavor to be found of him spotless, and irreproachable, in peace.
15 and the long-suffering of our Lord count ye salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul — according to the wisdom given to him — did write to you,
And reckon the long-suffering of our Lord, to be for salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.
16 as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, unto their own destruction.
As, indeed, in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things: in which there are some things hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Ye, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, ye may fall from your own stedfastness,
Therefore, beloved, foreknowing these things, be on your guard; lest being also carried away by the deceit of the lawless, you fall from your own steadfastness.
18 and increase ye in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to him [is] the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen. (aiōn )
But grow in favor, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (aiōn )