But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(A) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(B) By these waters also the world of that time(C) was deluged and destroyed.(D) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(E) being kept for the day of judgment(F) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(G) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(H) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(I) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(J)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(K) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(L) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(M) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](N)

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(O) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](P) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(Q) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(R) where righteousness dwells.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,

through which the then world, by water having been deluged, was destroyed;

and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.

And this one thing let not be unobserved by you, beloved, that one day with the Lord [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day;

the Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not counselling any to be lost but all to pass on to reformation,

10 and it will come -- the day of the Lord -- as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.

11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?

12 waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;

13 and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;

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They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[b] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! 13 But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or earnestly desiring

5-7 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.

The Day the Sky Will Collapse

8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a raging inferno, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

* * *

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For gar in maintaining thelō this houtos, they autos overlook the fact lanthanō that hoti by the ho word logos of ho God theos heavens ouranos existed eimi long ago ekpalai and kai an earth was formed synistēmi out of ek water hydōr and kai by means dia of water hydōr. By dia these hos the ho world kosmos of that time tote was destroyed apollymi, being deluged kataklyzō with water hydōr. But de by the ho same autos word logos the ho present nyn heavens ouranos and kai · ho earth have been eimi reserved thēsaurizō for fire pyr, kept tēreō for eis the day hēmera of judgment krisis and kai destruction apōleia of ho ungodly asebēs men anthrōpos. But de do not let this houtos one thing heis escape lanthanō your hymeis notice , dear friends agapētos, that hoti one heis day hēmera with para the Lord kyrios is as hōs a thousand chilioi years etos and kai a thousand chilioi years etos are as hōs a single heis day hēmera. The Lord kyrios is not ou late bradynō in fulfilling his ho promise epangelia, as hōs some tis regard hēgeomai lateness bradytēs, but alla is patient makrothumeō toward eis you hymeis, not willing boulomai that anyone tis should perish apollymi, but alla that all pas should come chōreō to eis repentance metanoia. 10 But de the Day hēmera of the Lord kyrios will come hēkō like hōs a thief kleptēs, in en which hos the ho heavens ouranos will pass away parerchomai with a rushing noise rhoizēdon, the elements stoicheion · de will melt lyō in the intense heat kausoō, and kai the earth and kai the ho works ergon in en it autos will be exposed heuriskō.

11 Since all pas these things houtos are thus houtōs to be dissolved lyō, what kind of people potapos ought dei you hymeis to be hyparchō in en holy hagios conduct anastrophē and kai godliness eusebeia, 12 waiting for prosdokaō and kai hastening speudō the ho coming parousia of the ho day hēmera of ho God theos, because of dia which hos the heavens ouranos will be set on fire pyroō and dissolved lyō, and kai the elements stoicheion will melt tēkō in the heat kausoō. 13 But de according to kata his autos promise epangelma we are waiting for prosdokaō new kainos heavens ouranos and kai a new kainos earth · ho in en which hos righteousness dikaiosynē will be at home katoikeō.

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