1 This is now the second letter I am writing to you, beloved. In both, I stir up your sincere minds by way of reminder, 2 so that you remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 Know this above all: in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, following their own desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this: that the heavens existed long ago, and earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. 6 Through these the world of that time perished, flooded with water. 7 But the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire by the same word, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

8 But do not overlook this one thing, beloved: with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be dissolved as they burn, and the earth and the works in it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of that day the heavens will be dissolved in fire, and the elements will melt as they burn. 13 But according to his promise, we await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, as you await these things, be diligent to be found by him spotless and blameless, in peace, 15 and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, 16 as he does in all his letters, speaking in them of these things. In them are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unstable twist, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, guard yourselves so that you are not carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.