1 B eloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by way of remembrance,

This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;

2 T hat you should recall the predictions of the holy (consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles (His special messengers).

that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:

3 T o begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, walk after their own fleshly desires

knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,

4 A nd say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation.

and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 F or they willfully overlook and forget this, that the heavens existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water,

For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

6 T hrough which the world that then was deluged with water and perished.

by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 B ut by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 N evertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

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

9 T he Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 B ut the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the '> material] elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 S ince all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought you to be in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,

Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,

12 W hile you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the '> material] elements will flare and melt with fire?

looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 B ut we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.

But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 S o, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace '> free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.

15 A nd consider that the long-suffering of our Lord '> His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation ( that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;

16 S peaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as the rest of the Scriptures.

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 L et me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked fall from your own firm condition.

Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.

18 B ut grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.