^17 (A)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. ^(B)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, ^(C)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(D)escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them ^(E)freedom, ^(F)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, ^(G)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(H)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(I)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For ^(J)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(K)the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The ^(L)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

The Day of the Lord Will Come

3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them ^(M)I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ^2 (N)that you should remember the predictions of ^(O)the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, ³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ^(P)in the last days with scoffing, ^(Q)following their own sinful desires. ^4 (R)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(S)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth ^(T)was formed out of water and through water ^(U)by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed ^(V)was deluged with water and ^(W)perished. ⁷ But by the same word ^(X)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and ^(Y)destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and ^(Z)a thousand years as one day. ^9 (AA)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise ^(AB)as some count slowness, but ^(AC)is patient toward you,^{[b] (AD)}not wishing that any should perish, but ^(AE)that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But ^(AF)the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then ^(AG)the heavens will pass away with a roar, and ^(AH)the heavenly bodies^[c] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.^[d]

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, ^(AI)what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ^12 (AJ)waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and ^(AK)the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!