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

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 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,

3 t his first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,

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

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 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.

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,

Of 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;

6 t hrough which the then world, by water having been deluged, was destroyed;

by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, 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 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.

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;

¶ 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.

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 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.

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 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.

11 A ll these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?

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

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;

waiting 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?

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

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

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

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

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 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

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.

in 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.

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,

Ye, 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.

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