2 Pedro 3

¹ Beloved, this second epistle I now write to you, in which epistles I stir up your sincere mind to remembrance:

² to be mindful of the words before spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour.

³ Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking after their own lusts,

⁴ and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as at the beginning of the creation.

⁵ But this willfully escapes them, that, by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth subsisting from the water, and by water:

⁶ by which the world that then was, being deluged with water, perished.

⁷ But the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured up, being kept for fire to a day of judgment, and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ But this one thing, let it not escape you, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹ The Lord does not delay his promise in the manner some account delaying; but he exercises long-suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to reformation.

¹⁰ However, as thief, the day of the Lord will come; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements burning shall be dissolved; and the earth, and the works that are upon it, shall be utterly burned.

¹¹ Seeing, then, all these things shall be dissolved; -what sort of persons ought you to be, in holy behavior and godliness,

¹² expecting and earnestly desiring, the coming of the day of God; in which the heavens being set on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements burning, shall be melted?

¹³ But we, according to his promise, expect new heavens, and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, expecting these things, diligently endeavor to be found of him spotless, and irreproachable, in peace.

¹⁵ And reckon the long-suffering of our Lord, to be for salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.

¹⁶ As, indeed, in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things: in which there are some things hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, beloved, foreknowing these things, be on your guard; lest being also carried away by the deceit of the lawless, you fall from your own steadfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in favor, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.