| 1 | 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 words 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 longsuffering 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 longsuffering 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 stedfastness . |
| 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 . |
