彼得後書 3
1 親愛的諸位！這已是我給你們寫的第二封信，在這兩封信中，我都用提醒的話，來鼓勵你們應有赤誠的心，
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 叫你們想起聖先知們以前說過的話，以及你們的宗徒們傳授的主和救世者的誡命。
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 首先你們該知道：在末日要出現一些愛嘲笑戲弄，按照自己的私慾生活的人，
Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.
4 他們說：「那裏有他所應許的來臨？因為自從我們的父老長眠以來，一切照舊存在，全如創造之初一樣。」
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 他們故意忘記了：在太古之時，因天主的話，就有了天，也有了由水中出現，並在水中而存在的地；
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 又因天主的話和水，當時的世界為水所淹沒而消滅了；
and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 甚至連現有的天地，還是因天主的話得以保存，直存到審判及惡人喪亡的日子，被火焚燒。
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 親愛的諸位，惟有這一件事你們不可忘記：就是在天主前一日如千年，千年如一日。
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 主決不遲延他的應許，有如某些人所想像的；其實是他對妳們含忍，不願任何人喪亡，只願眾人回心轉意。
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 可是，主的日子必要如盜賊一樣來到；在那一日，天要轟然過去，所有的原質都要因烈火而溶化，大地及其中所有的工程，也都要被焚毀。
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 這一切既然都要這樣消失，那麼，你們應該怎樣以聖潔和虔敬的態度生活，
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 以等候並催促天主日子的來臨！在這日子上，天要為火所焚毀，所有的原質也要因烈火而溶化；
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 可是，我們卻按照他的應許，等候正義常住在其中的新天新地。
But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 為此，親愛的諸位，你們既然等候這一切，就應該勉力，使他見到你們沒有玷污，沒有瑕疵，安然無懼；
Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
15 並應以我們主的容忍當作得救的機會；這也是我們可愛的弟兄保祿，本著賜與他的智慧，曾給你們寫過的；
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 也正如他在談論這些事時，在一切書信內所寫過的。在這些書信內，有些難懂的地方，不學無術和站立不穩的人，便加以曲解，一如曲解其他經典一樣，而自趨喪亡。
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 所以，親愛的諸位，你們既預先知道了這些事，就應該提防，免得為不法之徒的錯謬所誘惑，而由自己的堅固立場跌下來。
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
