2 Peter 3

Modern

Literal

The Coming Judgment

¹Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

¹Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your pure mind in a reminder

²by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

²to remember the words having been spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the Lord and Savior by your apostles,

³Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^a

³first knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, going according to their own passions

⁴“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For from which time the fathers fell asleep, all things continue in this way from the beginning of creation.”

⁵But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

⁵For this is hidden from them willingly, that the heavens were long ago, and the earth, out of water and through water having been composed by the word of God,

⁶through which^a the world of that time perished in the flood.

⁶through which the world at that time was destroyed, having been deluged with water.

⁷And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁷But by the same word the present heavens and the earth are having been stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The Day of the Lord

⁸Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^a

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

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

⁹The Lord is not slow in the promise, as some esteem slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but all to receive a place for repentance.

¹⁰But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed^a by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.^b

¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing sound, and the elements will be dissolved, burning with heat, and the earth and the works in it will not be found.

¹¹Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

¹¹All these things being dissolved in this way, what kind is it necessary for you to be? It is in holy conduct and godliness,

¹²as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

¹²anticipating and hastening the coming of the day of God, by which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements melt, burning with heat.

¹³But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

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

Final Exhortations

¹⁴Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.^a

¹⁴Therefore, beloved, anticipating these things, be diligent, without spot and without blemish, to be found by Him in peace.

¹⁵Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.

¹⁵And esteem the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom having been given to him, wrote to you,

¹⁶He writes this way in all his letters,^a speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort,^b as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁶as also in all the letters, speaking in them concerning these things, in which some things are difficult to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable distort, as also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁷Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

¹⁷You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on guard, lest, having been led away by the error of the lawless, you should fall from your own steadfastness.

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.^a

¹⁸But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.