³ First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days^(A) to scoff, living according to their own desires, ⁴ saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?^(B) Ever since the fathers fell asleep,^(C) all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water^(D) by the word of God.^{(E) 6} Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded.^{(F) 7} But by the same word,^(G) the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment^(H) and destruction of ungodly men.