This
second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in
both which I stir up your pure minds by way of
remembrance:
02 That ye may be mindful of the words which were
spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and
Saviour:
03 Knowing this first, that there shall come in
the last days scoffers, walking after their own
lusts,
04 And saying, Where is the promise of his
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning
of the creation.
05 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that
by the word of God the heavens were of old, and
the earth standing out of the water and in the
water:
06 Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water, perished:
07 But the heavens and the earth, which are now,
by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men.
08 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one
thing, that one day is with the Lord as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
09 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up.
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11 Seeing then that all these things shall be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be
in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the
day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for
such things, be diligent that ye may be found of
him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them
of these things; in which are some things hard to
be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these
things before, beware lest ye also, being led
away with the error of the wicked, fall from your
own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory
both now and for ever. Amen.
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