| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, | 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, |
| 2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the 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. |
| 3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. | 3First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, |
| 4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were 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." |
| 5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, | 5They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. |
| 6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. | 6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. |
| 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. | 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. |
| 8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one 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 to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach 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, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. | 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 all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of 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 |
| 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! | 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 according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. | 13But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. |
| 14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. | 14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. |
| 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given 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. |
| 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. | 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. |
| 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. | 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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