[1] This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and
in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder; [2]
that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the
commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. [3] First of all
you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with
scoffing, following their own passions [4] and saying, "Where is the
promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things
have continued as they were from the beginning of creation." [5] They
deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long
ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, [6] through
which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. [7]
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored
up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of
ungodly men. [8] But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the
Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9]
The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is
forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should reach repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the
elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are
upon it will be burned up. [11] Since all these things are thus to be
dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and
godliness, [12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the
elements will melt with fire! [13] But according to his promise we wait for
new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. [14] Therefore,
beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without
spot or blemish, and at peace. [15] And count the forbearance of our Lord
as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to
the wisdom given him, [16] speaking of this as he does in all his letters.
There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and
unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.
[17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be
carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.
[18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
