The Coming Judgment (Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)
1 DBY This, a second letter, beloved, I already write to you, in both which I stir up, in the way of putting you in remembrance, your pure mind, BSB BSB: Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking
2 DBY to be mindful of the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the Lord and Saviour by your apostles; BSB BSB: by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 DBY knowing this first, that there shall come at the close of the days mockers with mocking, walking according to their own lusts, BSB BSB: Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 DBY and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep all things remain thus from the beginning of the creation. BSB BSB: “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
5 DBY For this is hidden from them through their own wilfulness, that heavens were of old, and an earth, having its subsistence out of water and in water, by the word of God, BSB BSB: But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 DBY through which waters the then world, deluged with water, perished. BSB BSB: through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
7 DBY But the present heavens and the earth by his word are laid up in store, kept for fire unto a day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. BSB BSB: And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)
10 DBY But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements, burning with heat, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it shall be burnt up. BSB BSB: 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 its works will be laid bare.
11 DBY All these things then being to be dissolved, what ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness, BSB BSB: Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
12 DBY waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements, burning with heat, shall melt? BSB BSB: as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 DBY But, according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. BSB BSB: But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Final Exhortations 14 DBY Wherefore, beloved, as ye wait for these things, be diligent to be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless; BSB BSB: Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
16 DBY as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; among which some things are hard to be understood, which the untaught and ill-established wrest, as also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. BSB BSB: He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 DBY Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things before, take care lest, being led away along with the error of the wicked, ye should fall from your own stedfastness: BSB BSB: Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
18 DBY but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. BSB BSB: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.