1 ¶ Beloved, I now write unto you this second epistle, in which I alert with exhortation your pure understanding,

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

2 t hat ye keep in memory the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of our commandment, that we are apostles of the Lord and Saviour,

That 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).

3 ¶ knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts

To 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

4 a nd saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the day in which the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

And 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.

5 O f course, they willingly ignore that the heavens were created of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, by the word of God;

For 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,

6 b y which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished;

Through which the world that then was deluged with water and perished.

7 b ut the heavens, which are now, and the earth are conserved by the same word, kept unto the fire in the day of judgment and of perdition of the ungodly men.

But 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.

8 ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day before the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day.

Nevertheless, 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.

9 ¶ The Lord is not late concerning his promise, as some count lateness, but is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The 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.

10 B ut the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements, burning, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up.

But 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.

11 ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Since 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,

12 w aiting for and desiring earnestly for the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

While 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?

13 N evertheless we, according to his promises, wait for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

But 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.

14 T herefore, beloved, seeing that ye hope for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.

So, 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].

15 A nd have as saving health the patience of our Lord, even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you

And 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,

16 i n almost all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, among which are some things that are hard to understand, which those that are ignorant and unstable twist, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Speaking 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.

17 Y e, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things in advance, be on guard lest by the error of the wicked ye be deceived with the others and fall from your own steadfastness.

Let 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.

18 B ut grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and until the day of eternity. Amen.

But 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)!