 1 Now, beloved, I write this second epistle to you, in both of which I hope to stir you up to remember to have a pure mind 2 and so that you may be mindful of the words that were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandments of our Lord and Savior as proclaimed by us, the apostles. 3 Know this first: That in the last days, there will come scoffers, walking after their own lusts. 4 They will say: Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, everything+ continues as it was from the beginning of creation. 5 For this they are willingly ignorant~ that the heavens were made by the Word of God long ago+ and the earth came forth out of the water and still stands in the water. 6 And the world as it was then, overflowed with water and perished. 7 But the Word of God has kept the Heavens and the Earth in store and they are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and damnation+ of all ungodly people+. 8 But, beloved, do not be ignorant~ about this one thing: That with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. But He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night in which the Heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat and the Earth also and all the works therein will be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be destroyed+, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation~ and conduct and godliness? 12 Should you not be looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God in which the heavens being on fire will be destroyed+ and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless, according to His promise, we look for new Heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness will live+. 14 Therefore beloved, since you look for such things, be diligent so that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 15 And know that the longsuffering of our Lord is for salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul has also written to you, according to the wisdom given to him. 16 In all his epistles, Paul also spoke about these things. Some things among them are hard to understand, which cause those who are uneducated+ and unstable to wrestle, as they do also with other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, beloved, since+ you knew these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
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