| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. | 1This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, |
| 2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. | 2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. |
| 3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. | 3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, |
| 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." | 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." |
| 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. | 5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, |
| 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. | 6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. |
| 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. | 7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. |
| 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. | 8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that 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. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. | 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for 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 everything done in it will be laid bare. | 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. |
| 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives | 11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, |
| 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. | 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! |
| 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. | 13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. |
| 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. | 14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, |
| 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. | 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, |
| 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. | 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. |
| 17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. | 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, |
| 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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