| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: | 1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. |
| 2That ye 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 Saviour: | 2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. |
| 3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, | 3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, 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 the creation. | 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." |
| 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: | 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. |
| 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: | 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. |
| 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. | 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. |
| 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. | 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. |
| 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. | 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. |
| 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. | 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. |
| 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, | 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives |
| 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? | 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. |
| 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. | 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. |
| 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. | 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. |
| 15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; | 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. |
| 16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. | 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. |
| 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. | 17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. |
| 18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. | 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. |
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