| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), | 1Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder, |
| 2that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, | 2so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. |
| 3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, | 3Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, |
| 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” | 4saying, "Where is his 'coming' that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." |
| 5For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, | 5They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. |
| 6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. | 6Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. |
| 7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. | 7By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. |
| 8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. | 8Dear friends, don't overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. |
| 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. | 9The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. |
| 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. | 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. |
| 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, | 11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness |
| 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? | 12as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. |
| 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. | 13But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. |
| 14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; | 14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. |
| 15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, | 15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. |
| 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. | 16He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; | 17Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. |
| 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. | 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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