⁴³ Blessed is that ^(A)slave whom his ^[a]master finds so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will take a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; ⁴⁶ then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and will ^[b]cut him in two, and assign ^[c]him a place with the unbelievers.

The Coming Day of the Lord

^3 (A)Know this first of all, that ^(B)in the last days ^(C)mockers will come with their mocking, ^(D)following after their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “^(E)Where is the promise of His ^(F)coming? For ever since the fathers ^[a](G)fell asleep, all things continue just as they were ^(H)from the beginning of creation.”

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, ^(A)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and ^(B)a thousand years like one day. ^9 (C)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but ^(D)is patient toward you, ^(E)not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.