| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, | 1Dear friends, this is now the second of two letters I am writing to you, in which I have been trying to stimulate your pure minds by reminding you |
| 2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, | 2to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of our Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. |
| 3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. | 3First of all you must understand this: In the last days mockers will come and, following their own desires, will ridicule us |
| 4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” | 4by saying, "What happened to the Messiah's promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of creation." |
| 5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, | 5But they deliberately ignore the fact that long ago the heavens existed and the earth was formed by God's word out of water and with water, |
| 6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. | 6by which the world at that time was deluged with water and destroyed. |
| 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. | 7Now by that same word, the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire and are being kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed. |
| 8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. | 8Don't forget this fact, dear friends: With the Lord a single day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a single day. |
| 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. | 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent. |
| 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. | 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will disappear with a roaring sound, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be exposed. |
| 11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, | 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, think of the kind of holy and godly people you ought to be |
| 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! | 12as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire. |
| 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. | 13But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. |
| 14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. | 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to have the Lord find you at peace and without spot or fault. |
| 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, | 15Think of our Lord's patience as facilitating salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. |
| 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. | 16He speaks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in them are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, leading to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. | 17And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continuously be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position. |
| 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. | 18Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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