1Dear friends,1 this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders2 to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets1 and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.2
3Above all, you must understand that in the last days1 scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.2
4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?1 Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”2
5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word1 the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.2
6By these waters also the world of that time1 was deluged and destroyed.2
7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,1 being kept for the day of judgment2 and destruction of the ungodly.
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.1
9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,1 as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient2 with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.3
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.1 The heavens will disappear with a roar;2 the elements will be destroyed by fire,3 and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.a4
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12as you look forward1 to the day of God and speed its coming.a2 That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.3
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,1 where righteousness dwells.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless1 and at peace with him.
15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience1 means salvation,2 just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.3
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 unstable1 people distort,2 as they do the other Scriptures,3 to their own destruction.
17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard1 so that you may not be carried away by the error2 of the lawless3 and fall from your secure position.4
18But grow in the grace1 and knowledge2 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.3 To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.4