¹ This, already, beloved, is the second letter I am writing unto you; and, in these letters, I am stirring up—by way of calling to remembrance—your uncorrupted mind,

² To remember the fore-spoken declarations made by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour, by your apostles.

³ Of this, first, taking note—that there will come, in the last of the days, with scoffing, scoffers, after their own covetings, going on,

⁴ and saying—Where is the promise of his presence? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things, thus remain, from the beginning of creation.

⁵ For this they, willfully, forget—that there were, heavens, from of old, and, an earth, on account of water and by means of water, compacted, by God’s word,—

⁶ By which means, the world that then was, with water being flooded, perished;

⁷ While, the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word, have been stored with fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men.

⁸ But, this one thing, forget not, beloved,—that, one day, with the Lord, is as a thousand years, and, a thousand years, as one day.

⁹ The Lord is, not slack, concerning his promise, as some count, slackness; but is long-suffering with regard to you, not being minded that any should perish, but that, all, unto repentance, should come.

¹⁰ Howbeit the day of the Lord will be here, as a thief,—in which, the heavens, with a rushing noise, will pass away, while, elements, becoming intensely hot, will be dissolved, and, earth, and the works therein, will be discovered.

¹¹ Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons, ought [ye] all the while to be, in holy ways of behaviour and acts of godliness,—

¹² Expecting and hastening the presence of the day of God, by reason of which, heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and, elements, becoming intensely hot, are to be melted;

¹³ But, new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell.

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, these things, expecting—give diligence, unspotted and unblemished, by him, to be found, in peace;

¹⁵ And account, our Lord’s long suffering, [to be] salvation:—even as, our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you;

¹⁶ As also, in all letters, speaking in them concerning these things,—in which [letters] are some things, hard to be understood, which, the uninstructed and unstable, wrest,—as also the other scriptures,—unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ Ye, therefore, beloved, taking note beforehand, be on your guard, lest, with the error of the impious being led away, ye fall from your own steadfastness;

¹⁸ But be growing in the favour and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:—unto whom be the glory, both now and unto a day that abideth.