^21 (A)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things ^(B)of which you are now ashamed? ^(C)For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you ^(D)have been set free from sin and ^(E)have become slaves of God, ^(F)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and ^(G)its end, eternal life.

⁵ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are ^(A)storing up ^(B)wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

^4 (A)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(B)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 ^(C)was formed out of water and through water ^(D)by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed ^(E)was deluged with water and ^(F)perished. ⁷ But by the same word ^(G)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and ^(H)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 ^(I)a thousand years as one day. ^9 (J)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise ^(K)as some count slowness, but ^(L)is patient toward you,^{[a] (M)}not wishing that any should perish, but ^(N)that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But ^(O)the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then ^(P)the heavens will pass away with a roar, and ^(Q)the heavenly bodies^[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.^[c]

¹⁴ You have said, ^(A)‘It is vain to serve God. ^(B)What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?