2 Petro 3
1 Wapenzi wangu, hii ni barua ya pili ninayowaandikia. Katika barua hizo mbili nimejaribu kufufua fikira safi akilini mwenu kwa kuwakumbusheni mambo haya.
This second letter, beloved, I now write to you, in both which I stir up your pure minds by putting you in remembrance;
2 Napenda mkumbuke maneno yaliyosemwa na manabii watakatifu, na ile amri ya Bwana na Mwokozi mliyopewa na mitume wenu.
that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the Lord and Saviour by your apostles;
3 Awali ya yote jueni kwamba siku za mwisho watakuja watu ambao mienendo yao inatawaliwa na tamaa zao mbaya. Watawadhihaki ninyi
knowing this first, that there will come in the last days open scoffers following their own lusts,
4 na kusema: “Aliahidi kwamba atakuja! Je, sasa yuko wapi? Mambo ni yaleyale tangu babu zetu walipokufa; hali ya vitu ni ileile kama ilivyokuwa mwanzo wa ulimwengu!”
and saying, Where is his promised coming? for, from the time when the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as then, and as they have continued from the beginning of the creation.
5 Watu hao, kwa makusudi, husahau kwamba zamani Mungu alinena, nazo mbingu na nchi zikaumbwa. Dunia iliumbwa kutoka katika maji na kwa maji;
For of this they are willingly ignorant, that of old by the word of God there were heavens, and an earth formed out of the water and by the water,
6 na kwa maji hayo, yaani yale maji ya gharika kuu, dunia ya wakati ule iliangamizwa.
by means of which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished;
7 Lakini mbingu na nchi za sasa zahifadhiwa kwa neno la Mungu kwa ajili ya kuharibiwa kwa moto. Zimewekwa kwa ajili ya Siku ile ambapo watu wasiomcha Mungu watahukumiwa na kuangamizwa.
but the present heavens and the present earth are by his word kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men.
8 Lakini, wapenzi wangu, msisahau kitu kimoja! Mbele ya Bwana, hakuna tofauti kati ya siku moja na miaka elfu; kwake yote ni mamoja.
But forget not, beloved, this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 Bwana hakawii kutimiza yale aliyoahidi kama watu wengine wanavyofikiri kuwa atakawia. Yeye ana saburi kwa ajili yenu, maana hapendi hata mmoja wenu apotee, bali huwavuta wote wapate kutubu.
The Lord is not tardy concerning his promise, as some men count tardiness; but is long-suffering toward you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 Siku ya Bwana itakuja kama mwizi. Siku hiyo, mbingu zitatoweka kwa kishindo kikuu; vitu vyake vya asili vitateketezwa kwa moto, nayo dunia itatoweka pamoja na kila kitu kilichomo ndani yake.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein will be burned up.
11 Maadamu kila kitu kitaharibiwa namna hiyo, je, ninyi mnapaswa kuwa watu wa namna gani? Mnapaswa kuishi kitakatifu na kumcha Mungu,
Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 mkiingojea Siku ile ya Mungu na kuifanya ije upesi—Siku ambayo mbingu zitateketezwa kwa moto na kuharibiwa, na vitu vyake vya asili vitayeyushwa kwa joto.
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat!
13 Lakini sisi, kufuatana na ahadi yake, twangojea mbingu mpya na dunia mpya ambayo imejaa uadilifu.
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Kwa hiyo wapenzi wangu, mkiwa mnangojea Siku ile, fanyeni bidii kuwa safi kabisa bila hatia mbele ya Mungu, na kuwa na amani naye.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, be diligent that ye may be found without spot and blameless before him in peace,
15 Mnapaswa kuuona uvumilivu wa Bwana kuwa ni nafasi anayowapeni mpate kuokolewa, kama Paulo ndugu yetu mpenzi alivyowaandikia akitumia hekima aliyopewa na Mungu.
and account the long-suffering of our Lord salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
16 Hayo ndiyo asemayo katika barua zake zote anapozungumzia suala hilo. Yapo mambo kadhaa katika barua zake yaliyo magumu kuyaelewa, mambo ambayo watu wajinga, wasio na msimamo, huyapotosha kama wanavyopotosha sehemu nyingine za Maandiko Matakatifu. Hivyo wanasababisha maangamizi yao wenyewe.
as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which things are some that are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Lakini ninyi, wapenzi wangu, mmekwisha jua jambo hili. Basi, muwe na tahadhari msije mkapotoshwa na makosa ya waasi, mkaanguka kutoka katika msimamo wenu imara.
Do ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things beforehand, beware lest, being led away with the error of the lawless, ye fall from your own steadfastness.
The Great Flood
