2 Peter 3

¹Beloved, this [is] now [my] second letter to you. [Both] of [them] [are] reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

²by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by [our] Lord and Savior through your apostles.

³Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing [and] following their own evil desires.

⁴“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since [our] fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from [the] beginning of creation.”

⁵[But] they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word [the] heavens existed and [the] earth was formed out of water and by water,

⁶through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

⁷And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for [the] day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸Beloved, {do} not {let} [this] one thing escape your notice: With [the] Lord a day [is] like a thousand years, and a thousand years [are] like a day.

⁹The Lord is not slow [in keeping] [His] promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

¹⁰But [the] Day of [the] Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, [the] elements will be destroyed by fire, and [the] earth and [its] works will be laid bare.

¹¹[Since] everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of [people] ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

¹²as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when [the] heavens will be destroyed by fire and [the] elements will melt in the heat.

¹³But in keeping with [God’s] promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace — spotless and blameless in His [sight].

¹⁵Consider also that our Lord’s patience [brings] salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom [God] gave him.

¹⁶[ He writes ] this way in all [his] letters, speaking in them about [such matters]. Some [parts] of [his letters] are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable [people] distort, as [they do] the rest of [the] Scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁷Therefore, beloved, [since] you already know [these things], be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless [and] fall from [your] secure standing.

¹⁸But 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.