2 Peter 3:1–10

The Day of the Lord

3Dear friends,ⁱ this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders^j to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. ²I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets^k and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.^l

³Above all, you must understand that in the last days^m scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{n 4}They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^o Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{p 5}But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^q the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^{r 6}By these waters also the world of that time^s was deluged and destroyed.^{t 7}By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^u being kept for the day of judgment^v and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{w 9}The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^x as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^y with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^z

¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^a The heavens will disappear with a roar;^b the elements will be destroyed by fire,^c and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^ad