[1 The certainty of Christ's coming to judgment. 11 An exhortation to godliness]
THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write unto
you; in both which I stir up your pure minds
by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the word which
were spoken before by the holy prophets and of
the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord
and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And 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.
5 For 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:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed
with water, perished:
7 But 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.
8 But, 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.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
10 But 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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking 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?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for
such things, be diligent that ye may be found of
him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the long-suffering of our
Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath
written unto you;
16 As 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.
17 Ye 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
steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be
glory both now and for ever. Amen.
