Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 Beloved, I now write unto you this second epistle, in which I alert with exhortation your pure understanding,
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Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2 that ye keep in memory the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of our commandment, that we are apostles of the Lord and Saviour,
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I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts
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Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the day in which the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as <em>they were</em> from the beginning of the creation.
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They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
5 Of course, they willingly ignore that the heavens were <em>created</em> of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, by the word of God;
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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.
6 by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished;
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By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 but the heavens, which are now, and the earth are conserved by the same word, kept unto the fire in the day of judgment and of perdition of the ungodly men.
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By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day before the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day.
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But 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.
9 The Lord is not late concerning his promise, as some count lateness, but is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements, burning, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up.
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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 <em>Seeing</em> then <em>that</em> all these things shall be dissolved, what manner <em>of persons</em> ought ye to be in <em>all</em> holy conversation and godliness,
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Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 waiting for and desiring earnestly for the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
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as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promises, wait for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.
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But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that ye hope for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.
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So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15 And have as saving health the patience of our Lord, even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you
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Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16 in almost all <em>his</em> epistles, speaking in them of these things, among which are some things <em>that</em> are hard to understand, which those that are ignorant and unstable twist, as <em>they do</em> also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
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He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Ye, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know <em>these things</em> in advance, be on guard lest by the error of the wicked ye be deceived with the others and fall from your own steadfastness.
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Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
18 But grow in grace and <em>in</em> the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To him <em>be</em> glory both now and until the day of eternity. Amen.
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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.