2 Peter 3
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you
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,
2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
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.
3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
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.”
5 For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,
They willfully forget that the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, long ago, by God's command,
6 by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
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.
8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
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.
9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
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.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives.
12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
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.
13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
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.
16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
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.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
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.
The World is Destroyed by Water
