2 Peter 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; through them by way of reminder I am trying to stir up your sincere disposition,	1 Consider, most beloved, this second epistle which I am writing to you, in which I stir up, by admonition, your sincere mind,
2 to recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and savior through your apostles.	2 so that you may be mindful of those words that I preached to you from the holy prophets, and of the precepts of the Apostles of your Lord and Savior.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come (to) scoff, living according to their own desires	3 Know this first: that in the last days there will arrive deceitful mockers, walking according to their own desires,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation."	4 saying: “Where is his promise or his advent? For from the time that the fathers have slept, all things have continued just as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 They deliberately ignore the fact that the heavens existed of old and earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God;	5 But they willfully ignore this: that the heavens existed first, and that the earth, from water and through water, was established by the Word of God.
6 through these the world that then existed was destroyed, deluged with water.	6 By water, the former world then, having been inundated with water, perished.
7 The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of destruction of the godless.	7 But the heavens and the earth that exist now were restored by the same Word, being reserved unto fire on the day of judgment, and unto the perdition of impious men.
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.	8 Yet truly, let this one thing not escape notice, most beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.	9 The Lord is not delaying his promise, as some imagine, but he does act patiently for your sake, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting all to be turned back to penance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.	10 Then the day of the Lord shall arrive like a thief. On that day, the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and truly the elements shall be dissolved with heat; then the earth, and the works that are within it, shall be completely burned up.
11 Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,	11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be? In behavior and in piety, be holy,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.	12 waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire.
13 But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.	13 Yet truly, in accord with his promises, we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, in which justice lives.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.	14 Therefore, most beloved, while awaiting these things, be diligent, so that you may be found to be immaculate and unassailable before him, in peace.
15 And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you,	15 And let the longsuffering of our Lord be considered salvation, as also our most beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.	16 just as he also spoke in all of his epistles about these things. In these, there are certain things which are difficult to understand, which the unlearned and the unsteady distort, as they also do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.	17 But since you, brothers, know these things beforehand, be cautious, lest by being drawn into the error of the foolish, you may fall away from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. (Amen.)	18 Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen.