2 Peter 3

1Beloved, I now write this second letter to you; in both I stir up your sincere mind by reminder.

2that you remember the words foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior from your apostles

3Above all, understand this: in the last days scoffers will come, mocking as they follow their own desires.

4and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue thus from the beginning of creation."

5For they deliberately overlook this, that there were heavens long ago, and an earth formed out of water and through water by the word of God.

6Through which the world of that time, flooded with water, perished.

7But the present heavens and the earth, by the same word, have been stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8But beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9The Lord does not delay his promise, as some consider slackness; but he is patient toward you, not wishing any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, on which the heavens will pass away with a roaring crash, the elements will dissolve in blazing fire, and the earth and the works within it will lie exposed.

11Since all these things are thus being dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?

12Expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens will dissolve amid fire and the elements will melt in scorching heat.

13But according to his promise, we await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14Therefore, beloved, as you await these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless.

15And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him.

16As also in all his letters, speaking in them about these things—in which some hard-to-understand matters occur, which ignorant and unstable people twist, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

17You therefore, beloved, knowing beforehand, be on guard lest the delusion of the lawless carry you away and you fall from your own steadfastness.

18But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.