1 This is now, beloved, a second letter that I write to you; in these I stir up your sincere mind by reminder; 2 that ye should remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles: 3 knowing this first, that in the last of the days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own :lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his presence? for, since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue thus from beginning of creation. 5 For this they willfully forget, that heavens were from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and through water, by the word of :God; 6 by which means the then world, overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the present heavens, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up †for fire, being reserved against a day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men. 8 But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning the promise, as some count slackness; but is long-suffering toward you, not intending that any perish, but that all come to repentance. 10 But the Lord’s day will come as a thief; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works therein shall be †disclosed. 11 Since these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the presence of the day of :God, by reason of which heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his :promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, since ye look for these, give diligence to be found in peace, spotless and blameless before him. 15 And account that the long-suffering of our :Lord is salvation; even as our beloved :brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given him, wrote you; 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unsteadfast wrest, as also the other scriptures, unto their own :destruction. 17 YE therefore, beloved, knowing beforehand, beware lest, carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own :steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace and knowledge of our :Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him the glory both now and unto the day of the age.
