1 T his, now, beloved, a second letter to you I write, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding,

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 o be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command of us the 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 t his first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,

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 presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain 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 f or this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together 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 t hrough which the then world, by water having been deluged, was destroyed;

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

7 a nd the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious 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 A nd this one thing let not be unobserved by you, beloved, that one day with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years 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 t he Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not counselling any to be lost but all to pass on to reformation,

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 a nd it will come -- the day of the Lord -- as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt 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 A ll these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?

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 hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;

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 a nd for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;

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 w herefore, beloved, these things waiting for, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, by Him to be found in peace,

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 the long-suffering of our Lord count ye salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul -- according to the wisdom given to him -- did write to 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 a s also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, 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, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, ye may fall from your own stedfastness,

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 a nd increase ye in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to him the glory both now, and to the day of the age! 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)!