3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written¹ you, in which² I am trying to stir up³ your pure mind by way of reminder: 3:2 I want you to recall⁴ both⁵ the predictions⁶ foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.⁷ 3:3 Above all, understand this:⁸ in the last days blatant scoffers⁹ will come, being propelled by their own evil urges¹⁰ 3:4 and saying,¹¹ “Where is his promised coming?¹² For ever since¹³ our ancestors¹⁴ fell asleep,¹⁵ all things have continued as they were¹⁶ from the beginning of creation.” 3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact,¹⁷ that by the word of God¹⁸ heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed from water and by water. 3:6 Through these things¹⁹ the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.²⁰

3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice,²¹ that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise,²² as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish²³ for any²⁴ to perish but for all to come to repentance.²⁵ 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes,²⁶ the heavens will disappear²⁷ with a horrific noise,²⁸ and the celestial bodies²⁹ will melt away³⁰ in a blaze,³¹ and the earth and every deed done on it³² will be laid bare.³³ 3:11 Since all these things are to melt away³⁴ in this manner,³⁵ what sort of people must we³⁶ be, conducting our lives in holiness³⁷ and godliness, 3:12 while waiting for and hastening³⁸ the coming of the day of God.³⁹ Because of this day,⁴⁰ the heavens will be burned up and⁴¹ dissolve, and the heavenly bodies⁴² will melt away in a blaze!⁴³ 3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for⁴⁴ new heavens and a new earth, in which⁴⁵ righteousness truly resides.⁴⁶

3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for⁴⁷ these things, strive to be found⁴⁸ at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.⁴⁹ 3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation,⁵⁰ just as also our dear brother Paul⁵¹ wrote to you,⁵² according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters.⁵³ Some things in these letters⁵⁴ are hard to understand, things⁵⁵ the ignorant and unstable twist⁵⁶ to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.⁵⁷ 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned,⁵⁸ be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men,⁵⁹ and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.⁶⁰ 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge⁶¹ of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on⁶² that eternal day.⁶³