2 Peter 3

1 Consider, most beloved, this second epistle which I am writing to you, in which I stir up, by admonition, your sincere mind,

This, already, beloved, is the second letter I am writing unto you; and, in these letters, I am stirring up—by way of calling to remembrance—your uncorrupted mind,

2 so that you may be mindful of those words that I preached to you from the holy prophets, and of the precepts of the Apostles of your Lord and Savior.

To remember the fore-spoken declarations made by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour, by your apostles.

3 Know this first: that in the last days there will arrive deceitful mockers, walking according to their own desires,

Of this, first, taking note—that there will come, in the last of the days, with scoffing, scoffers, after their own covetings, going on,

4 saying: “Where is his promise or his advent? For from the time that the fathers have slept, all things have continued just as they were from the beginning of creation.”

and saying—Where is the promise of his presence? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things, thus remain, from the beginning of creation.

5 But they willfully ignore this: that the heavens existed first, and that the earth, from water and through water, was established by the Word of God.

For this they, willfully, forget—that there were, heavens, from of old, and, an earth, on account of water and by means of water, compacted, by God’s word, —

6 By water, the former world then, having been inundated with water, perished.

By which means, the world that then was, with water being flooded, perished;

7 But the heavens and the earth that exist now were restored by the same Word, being reserved unto fire on the day of judgment, and unto the perdition of impious men.

While, the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word, have been stored with fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men.

8 Yet truly, let this one thing not escape notice, most beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.

But, this one thing, forget not, beloved, —that, one day, with the Lord, is as a thousand years, and, a thousand years, as one day.

9 The Lord is not delaying his promise, as some imagine, but he does act patiently for your sake, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting all to be turned back to penance.

The Lord is, not slack, concerning his promise, as some count, slackness; but is long-suffering with regard to you, not being minded that any should perish, but that, all, unto repentance, should come.

10 Then the day of the Lord shall arrive like a thief. On that day, the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and truly the elements shall be dissolved with heat; then the earth, and the works that are within it, shall be completely burned up.

Howbeit the day of the Lord will be here, as a thief, —in which, the heavens, with a rushing noise, will pass away, while, elements, becoming intensely hot, will be dissolved, and, earth, and the works therein, will be discovered.

11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be? In behavior and in piety, be holy,

Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons, ought [ye] all the while to be, in holy ways of behaviour and acts of godliness, —

12 waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire.

Expecting and hastening the presence of the day of God, by reason of which, heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and, elements, becoming intensely hot, are to be melted;

13 Yet truly, in accord with his promises, we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, in which justice lives.

But, new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell.

14 Therefore, most beloved, while awaiting these things, be diligent, so that you may be found to be immaculate and unassailable before him, in peace.

Wherefore, beloved, these things, expecting—give diligence, unspotted and unblemished, by him, to be found, in peace;

15 And let the longsuffering of our Lord be considered salvation, as also our most beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

And account, our Lord’s long suffering, [to be] salvation: —even as, our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;

16 just as he also spoke in all of his epistles about these things. In these, there are certain things which are difficult to understand, which the unlearned and the unsteady distort, as they also do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

As also, in all letters, speaking in them concerning these things, —in which [letters] are some things, hard to be understood, which, the uninstructed and unstable, wrest, —as also the other scriptures, —unto their own destruction.

17 But since you, brothers, know these things beforehand, be cautious, lest by being drawn into the error of the foolish, you may fall away from your own steadfastness.

Ye, therefore, beloved, taking note beforehand, be on your guard, lest, with the error of the impious being led away, ye fall from your own steadfastness;

18 Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen. (aiōn g165)

But be growing in the favour and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: —unto whom be the glory, both now and unto a day that abideth. (aiōn g165)

The Great Flood