1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you 2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 5 For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God, 6 by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished. 7 But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone 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 which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. 15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1 亲爱的， 我现在写给你们的是第二封信。在这两封信中， 我都用提醒的话来激发你们真诚的心，

2 叫你们记起圣先知说过的话， 和主救主借着使徒传给你们的诫命。

3 最重要的， 你们应当知道： 在末后的日子， 必定有好讥笑的人出来， 随着自己的私欲讥笑说：

4 "他要降临的应许在哪里呢？因为自从列祖睡了以来， 万物依然存在， 与起初创造的时候一样。"

5 他们故意忘记这事： 在太古的时候， 因着 神的话， 就有了天， 和从水而出、借水而成的地。

6 当时的世界， 因被水淹没而消灭了。

7 但现在的天地， 还是因着同样的话可以存留， 直到不敬虔的人受审判和遭灭亡的日子， 用火焚烧。

8 亲爱的， 这一件事你们不可忘记： 在主看来， 一日如千年， 千年如一日。

9 主决不耽延他的应许， 像有些人以为他是耽延的一样； 其实他是宽容你们， 不愿有一人灭亡， 却愿人人都悔改。

10 但主的日子必要像贼一样来到。在那日， 天必轰然一声地消失， 所有元素都因烈火而融化； 地和地上所有的， 都要被烧毁。

11 这一切既然都要这样融化， 你们应当怎样为人， 过着圣洁和敬虔的生活，

12 等候并催促 神的日子降临呢？因为在那日， 天要被火焚烧就融化了， 所有元素都因烈火而融解！

13 但是我们按照他所应许的， 等候新天新地， 有公义在那里居住。

14 所以， 亲爱的， 你们既然等候这些事， 就当殷勤努力， 使你们没有污点， 没有瑕疵， 安然见主。

15 并且要以我们的主恒久忍耐为给人得救的机会， 就如我们所亲爱的弟兄保罗， 按照所赐给他的智慧， 写给你们的一样；

16 他在一切书信上， 都讲论这些事。在这些书信中， 有些难明白的地方， 那不学无术和不稳定的人加以曲解， 好像曲解别的经书一样， 就自取灭亡。

17 所以， 亲爱的， 你们既然预先知道了， 就要谨慎， 免得受恶人的错谬引导， 就从自己坚固的地步上坠落。

18 你们却要在我们的主、救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上长进。愿荣耀归给他， 从现在直到永远。阿们。