Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
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, | 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 |
2so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given 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. |
3Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, | 3First of all you must understand this: In the last days mockers will come and, following their own desires, will ridicule us |
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." | 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." |
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. | 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, |
6Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. | 6by which the world at that time was deluged with water and destroyed. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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 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. | 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; 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. | 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 to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness | 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, think of the kind of holy and godly people you ought to be |
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. | 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 based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where 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, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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