⁵For when^* they maintain this, it escapes their notice that the heavens existed long ago and the earth held together out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶by means of which things the world that existed at that time was destroyed by^* being inundated with water.

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Footnotes

*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“maintain”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being inundated”) which is understood as means

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded.

NLTNew Living Translation

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.

KJV 1900King James Version

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: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

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