1This is the second pistel that I now write unto you, my dearly beloved, wherewith I stir up and warn your pure minds, 2to call to remembrance the words which were told before of the holy prophets, and also the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and saviour.

3This first understand, that there shall come in the last days mockers, which will walk after their own lusts 4and say: Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers died all things continue in the same estate wherein they were at the beginning. 5This they know not (and that willingly) how that the heavens a great while ago were, and the earth that was in the water, appeared up out of the water by the word of God: 6by the which things the world that then was perished overflowen with the flood. 7But the heavens verily and earth which are now, are kept by the same word in store, and reserved unto fire, against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8Dearly beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, how that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand year, and a thousand year as one day. 9The Lord is not slack to fulfil his promise as some men count slackness: but is patient to us ward and would have no man lost, but would receive all men to repentance.

10Nevertheless the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which day, the heavens shall perish with terrible noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works that are therein shall burn.

11If all these things shall perish, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation, and godliness: 12looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens shall perish with fire, and the elements shall be consumed with heat. 13Nevertheless we look for a new heaven, and a new earth, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14Wherefore dearly beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and undefiled: 15And suppose that the long suffering of the Lord is health, even as our dearly beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given unto him, wrote to you, 16yea, almost in every pistel speaking of such things: among which are many things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned, and unstable pervert, as they do other scriptures unto their own destruction. 17Ye therefore beloved seeing ye are warned, Beware lest ye be also plucked away with the error of the wicked, and own steadfastness: 18but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord, and saviour Iesus Christ. To whom be glory both now and for ever, Amen.