| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, | 1Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: |
| 2so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. | 2I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. |
| 3First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, | 3Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges |
| 4saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." | 4and saying, "Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation." |
| 5They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. | 5For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. |
| 6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. | 6Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. |
| 7But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. | 7But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. |
| 8Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. | 8Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord 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 concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. |
| 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; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare. |
| 11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness | 11Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, |
| 12as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. | 12while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! |
| 13But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. | 13But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. |
| 14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. | 14Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. |
| 15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. | 15And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, |
| 16He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. | 16speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to 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 stability. | 17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. |
| 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. | 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day. |
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