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,

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

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 you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

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 scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 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 since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of 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 by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

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

by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

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 and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition 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, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is 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 toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Day of the Lord

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 night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will 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,

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct 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 hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will 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.

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Be Steadfast

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].

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

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 consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to 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, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

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.

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

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 Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.