2 UPhetro 3

1 Incwadi le eyesibili, bathandekayo, ngilibhalela yona khathesi; okungazo zombili ngivusa ingqondo yenu eqotho ngokulikhumbuza,

I indeed, beloved, write unto you this second epistle; in which I stir up your pure mind by remembrance:

2 ukuze likhumbule amazwi akhulunywa ngaphambili ngabaprofethi abangcwele, lomlayo wethu esingabaphostoli beNkosi loMsindisi;

to remember the words which have been spoken hitherto by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour by your apostles:

3 lisazi lokhu kuqala, ukuthi ekucineni kwensuku kuzafika abahleka usulu, behamba ngokwezabo inkanuko,

knowing this first, that at the last days mockers will come forth in scoffing, walking according to their own lusts,

4 njalo besithi: Singaphi isithembiso sokuza kwakhe? Ngoba selokhu obaba balala, konke kumi kunjalo kusukela ekuqaleni kokudalwa.

and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the day when the fathers fell asleep, all things remain as from the beginning of creation.

5 Ngoba lokhu kabakwazi ngabomo, ukuthi amazulu ayekhona kusukela endulo, lomhlaba, ukhona uvela emanzini njalo ukhona ngamanzi, ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu,

For they willingly forget this, that the heavens were in the olden time, and the earth standing out of the water and through the water, by the word of God;

6 okungalo ilizwe elalikhona labhujiswa ngokugcwaliswa ngamanzi;

by which the world at that time, being flooded with water, perished:

7 kodwa amazulu lomhlaba okukhona khathesi kubekiwe ngalona lelolizwi, kugcinelwe umlilo osukwini lokwahlulelwa lokubhujiswa kwabantu abeyisa uNkulunkulu.

but now the heavens and the earth have been kept according to the same word, being reserved for fire in the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.

8 Kodwa lintonye kakumelanga ingaziwa kini, bathandekayo, ukuthi usuku olulodwa eNkosini lunjengeminyaka eyinkulungwane, leminyaka eyinkulungwane njengosuku olulodwa.

But let not this one thing be forgotten, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 INkosi kayiphuzisi isithembiso, njengalokhu abanye besithi yikuphuza; kodwa iyasibekezelela, ingathandi ukuthi lamunye abhubhe kodwa ukuthi bonke bafinyelele ekuphendukeni.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some people count slackness; but is long-suffering for your sakes, not wishing that any should perish, but all come to repentance.

10 Kodwa usuku lweNkosi luzafika njengesela ebusuku, okuzakuthi ngalo amazulu adlule ngokuhlokoma, lokokuqala kuzadilizwa ngokutshisa okukhulu, lomhlaba lemisebenzi ekuwo kuzatshiswa.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements being scorched up will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be burnt up.

11 Njengoba zonke lezizinto zidilizwa, kumele libe ngabanjani ekuhambeni okungcwele lekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu,

Then all these things being dissolved, what kind of people does it behoove you to be in holy deportment and godliness,

12 lilindele lilangazelela ukufika kosuku lukaNkulunkulu, okungalo amazulu azakutsha adilizwe, lokokuqala kuncibilike ngokutshisa okukhulu.

looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements being scorched up are melted?

13 Kodwa ngokwesithembiso sakhe silindele amazulu amatsha lomhlaba omutsha, okuhlala kukho ukulunga.

But, according to his promises, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells.

14 Ngakho, bathandekayo, lilindele lezizinto, tshisekelani ukuthi lificwe nguye ekuthuleni lingelacwatshana njalo lingasoleki.

Therefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless unto him in peace:

15 Beselisithi ukubekezela kweNkosi yethu kulusindiso, njengalokhu lomzalwane wethu othandekayo uPawuli walibhalela, ngokwenhlakanipho eyaphiwa yena;

and consider the longsuffering of the Lord's salvation; as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom which was given unto him has written unto you;

16 njengoba kunjalo lencwadini zakhe zonke, ekhuluma kuzo ngalezizinto, okukuzo kukhona izinto ezithile ezilukhuni ukuzwisiseka, okuthi abangaziyo labangaqinanga bazihlanekele, lanjengakweminye imibhalo, kube kokwabo ukubhujiswa.

as also in all his epistles, speaking in the same concerning these things; in which there are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unestablished wrest, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Ngakho lina, bathandekayo, lisazi mandulo, xwayani, ukuze lingaduhiswa yinkohliso yabangelamlayo, liwe kokwenu ukuqina.

Then you, beloved, foreknowing watch, lest, having been led away by the delusion of the ungodly, you may fall from your own stedfastness:

18 Kodwa khulani emuseni lelwazini lweNkosi yethu loMsindisi uJesu Kristu. Ubukhosi kabube kuye lakhathesi njalo kuze kube lusuku lwaphakade. Ameni. (aiōn g165)

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of the age. (aiōn g165)

The Great Flood