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.