MODERN LITERAL VERSION

3:1 Beloved, this is already the second letter that I am writing to you*, and in both of them I am awakening your* sincere mind in a reminder;
3:2 to remember the declarations which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord and Savior through your* apostles.

3:3 Knowing this first, that in the last of the days, mockers will come, conducting-themselves according to their own lusts,
3:4 and saying, Where is the promise of his presence? For* from the day that the fathers fell-asleep, all things remain as they were from the beginning of the creation.
3:5 For* this is eluding them, (willing it to be so ): that there were heavens from long-ago and an earth established out of water and through water by the word of God;
3:6 through which water the world that was then, was destroyed, being flooded with water.
3:7 But the heavens and the earth that are now, by his word have been stored up for fire, being kept to the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

3:8 But beloved, let this one thing not elude you*, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.
3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some deem slowness, but is patient toward us, not willing for any to perish, but for all to make room *for repentance.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a crashing-sound and the elements will be dissolved by burning with a burning heat, and the earth and the works which are in it will be burned up.
3:11 Therefore these things are all to be dissolved, seeing what sort of things you* ought to possess in all holy conduct and godliness*,
3:12 expecting and diligently wanting the presence of the day of God, because of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved and the elements will melt, burning with a burning heat.
3:13 But, according to his promise, we are expecting new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

3:14 Hence, beloved, expecting these things, be diligent that you* may be found in peace, unstained and unblemished in his sight.
3:15 And deem the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just-as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you* according to the wisdom given to him;
3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these things; in which some things are difficult to perceive, which the unlearned and unstable are twisting, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
3:17 Therefore beloved, knowing beforehand these things, guard yourselves that* you* might not fall from your* own firmness, being led away with the error of the immoral.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory is to him, both now and to the final day of this age. Amen.