2 Peter 3
1 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,
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 To remember the fore-spoken declarations made by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour, by your apostles.
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 Of this, first, taking note—that there will come, in the last of the days, with scoffing, scoffers, after their own covetings, going on,
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 presence? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things, thus remain, from the beginning of 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 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, —
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 then was, with water being flooded, perished;
and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 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.
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, this one thing, forget not, beloved, —that, one day, with the Lord, is 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 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.
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 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.
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 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, —
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 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;
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, new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell.
But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Wherefore, beloved, these things, expecting—give diligence, unspotted and unblemished, by him, to be found, in peace;
Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
15 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;
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 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.
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 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;
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
