| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking | 1Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, |
| 2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. | 2so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. |
| 3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. | 3First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, |
| 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” | 4saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." |
| 5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, | 5They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. |
| 6through which the world of that time perished in the flood. | 6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. |
| 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. | 7But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. |
| 8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. | 8Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. |
| 9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. | 9The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. |
| 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. | 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. |
| 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness | 11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness |
| 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. | 12as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. |
| 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. | 13But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. |
| 14Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight. | 14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. |
| 15Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. | 15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. |
| 16He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. | 16He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. | 17Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. |
| 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. | 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. |
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