Dual Panel1Dear friends <27>, this <3778> is already <2235> the second <1208> letter <1992> I have written <1125> you <5213>, in <1722> which <3739> I am trying to stir up <1326> your <5216> pure <1506> mind <1271> by way of <1722> reminder <5280>:
2I want you to recall <3415> both the predictions <4487> foretold <4280> by <5259> the holy <40> prophets <4396> and <2532> the commandment <1785> of the Lord <2962> and <2532> Savior <4990> through your <5216> apostles <652>.
3Above all <4412>, understand <1097> this <5124>: In <1909> the last <2078> days <2250> blatant <1701> scoffers <1703> will come <2064>, being propelled <4198> by <2596> their own <2398> evil urges <1939>
4and <2532> saying <3004>, “Where <4226> is <1510> his <846> promised <1860> return <3952>? For <1063> ever since our ancestors <3962> died <2837>, all things <3956> have continued <1265> as <3779> they were from <575> the beginning <746> of creation <2937>.”
5For <1063> they <846> deliberately suppress <2990> this fact <5124>, that <3754> by the word <3056> of God <2316> heavens <3772> existed <1510> long ago <1597> and <2532> an earth <1093> was formed <4921> out of <1537> water <5204> and <2532> by means of <1223> water <5204>.
6Through <1223> these things <3739> the world <2889> existing at that time <5119> was destroyed <622> when <2626> it was deluged <2626> with water <5204>.
7But <1161> by the same <846> word <3056> the present <3568> heavens <3772> and <2532> earth <1093> have been reserved <2343> for fire <4442>, by being kept <5083> for <1519> the day <2250> of judgment <2920> and <2532> destruction <684> of the ungodly <765> <444>.
8Now <1161>, dear friends <27>, do <2990> not <3361> let <2990> this one thing <5124> escape <2990> your <5209> notice <2990>, that <3754> a single <1520> day <2250> is like <5613> a thousand <5507> years <2094> with <3844> the Lord <2962> and <2532> a thousand <5507> years <2094> are like <5613> a single <1520> day <2250>.
9The Lord <2962> is <1019> not <3756> slow <1019> concerning his promise <1860>, as <5613> some <5100> regard <2233> slowness <1022>, but <235> is being patient <3114> toward <1519> you <5209>, because he does <1014> not <3361> wish <1014> for any <5100> to perish <622> but <235> for all <3956> to come <5562> to <1519> repentance <3341>.
10But <1161> the day <2250> of the Lord <2962> will come <2240> like <5613> a thief <2812>; when it comes, the heavens <3772> will disappear <3928> with a horrific noise <4500>, and <1161> the celestial bodies <4747> will melt away in a blaze <2741>, and <2532> the earth <1093> and <2532> every deed <2041> done on <1722> it <846> will be laid bare <2147>.
11Since all <3956> these things <5130> are to melt away <3089> in this manner <3779>, what sort of <4217> people must <1163> we be <5225>, conducting <391> our <5209> lives <391> in <1722> holiness <40> and <2532> godliness <2150>,
12while waiting for <4328> and <2532> hastening <4692> the coming <3952> of the day <2250> of God <2316>? Because of <1223> this day <3739>, the heavens <3772> will be <3089> burned up <4448> and dissolve <3089>, and <2532> the celestial bodies <4747> will melt away <5080> in a blaze <2741>!
13But <1161>, according to <2596> his <846> promise <1862>, we are waiting for <4328> new <2537> heavens <3772> and <2532> a new <2537> earth <1093>, in <1722> which <3739> righteousness <1343> truly resides <2730>.
14Therefore <1352>, dear friends <27>, since you are waiting for <4328> these things <5023>, strive <4704> to be found <2147> at <1722> peace <1515>, without spot <784> or <2532> blemish <298>, when you come into his presence.
15And <2532> regard <2233> the patience <3115> of our <2257> Lord <2962> as salvation <4991>, just as <2531> also <2532> our <2257> dear <27> brother <80> Paul <3972> wrote <1125> to you <5213>, according to <2596> the wisdom <4678> given <1325> to him <846>,
16speaking <2980> of these things in <1722> all <3956> his letters <1992>. Some things <5130> in <1722> these letters <3739> are <1510> hard to understand <1425>, things <5100> the ignorant <261> and <2532> unstable <793> twist <4761> to <4314> their <846> own <2398> destruction <684>, as <5613> they also <2532> do to the rest <3062> of the scriptures <1124>.
17Therefore <3767>, dear friends <27>, since you <5210> have been forewarned <4267>, be on <5442> your guard <5442> that <2443> you do not <3361> get led astray <4879> by the error <4106> of these unprincipled men <113> and fall <1601> from your <2398> firm grasp <4740> on the truth.
18But <1161> grow <837> in <1722> the grace <5485> and <2532> knowledge <1108> of our <2257> Lord <2962> and <2532> Savior <4990> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>. To him <846> be the honor <1391> both <2532> now <3568> and <2532> on <1519> that eternal <165> day <2250>.