¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward^(A) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[a](B) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^{(C) 13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(D) where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(E) and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(F) means salvation,^(G) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(H) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(I) people distort,^(J) as they do the other Scriptures,^(K) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(L) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(M) of the lawless^(N) and fall from your secure position.^{(O) 18} But grow in the grace^(P) and knowledge^(Q) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(R) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(S)