1This is already the second epistle that I write to you, beloved, in which I arouse your pure mind by way of remembrance,2so that you remember the declarations foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.3knowing this first, that mockers will come in the last days with derision, going according to their own desires.4and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things thus remain from the beginning of creation."5For this escapes those who are willing, that the heavens were of old and the earth stands formed out of water and through water by the word of God.6through which the world then, being flooded with water, perished.7But the heavens that now are and the earth are stored up by the same word, being kept for fire toward the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.8But let not this one thing escape you, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.9The Lord does not delay the promise, as some count slowness, but has patience toward you, not planning that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be dissolved by burning, and the earth and the works in it will be found.11Since all these things are thus being dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy behavior and piety?12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, through which the heavens will be dissolved by burning and the elements will melt with heat.13But according to his promise we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be eager to be found spotless and blameless in peace.15And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him.16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them about these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable distort, as they do also the other writings, to their own destruction.17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, guard yourselves, lest being led away by the error of the lawless you fall from your own security.18But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of the age. Amen.