2 Peter 3 – NIRV & CCBT

New International Reader’s Version

2 Peter 3:1-18

The Day of the Lord

1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders. I want to encourage you to think in a way that is pure. 2I want you to remember the words the holy prophets spoke in the past. Remember the command our Lord and Savior gave through your apostles.

3Most of all, here is what you must understand. In the last days people will make fun of the truth. They will laugh at it. They will follow their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘return’ he promised? Everything goes on in the same way it has since our people of long ago died. In fact, it has continued this way since God first created everything.” 5Long ago, God’s word brought the heavens into being. His word separated the earth from the waters. And the waters surrounded it. But these people forget things like that on purpose. 6The waters also flooded the world of that time. And so they destroyed the world. 7By God’s word the heavens and earth of today are being reserved for fire. They are being kept for the day when God will judge. Then ungodly people will be destroyed.

8Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. Instead, he is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy everything in them. God will judge the earth and everything done in it.

11So everything will be destroyed in this way. And what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives. 12Live like this as you look forward to the day of God. Living like this will make the day come more quickly. On that day fire will destroy the heavens. Its heat will melt everything in them. 13But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. Godliness will live there. All this is in keeping with God’s promise.

14Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to this. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God. 15Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved. Our dear brother Paul also wrote to you about this. God made him wise to write as he did. 16Paul writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to understand. People who don’t know better and aren’t firm in the faith twist what he says. They twist the other Scriptures too. So they will be destroyed.

17Dear friends, you have already been warned about this. So be on your guard. Then you won’t be led astray by people who don’t obey the law. Instead, you will remain safe. 18Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Glory belongs to him both now and forever. Amen.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

彼得後書 3:1-18

主再來的應許

1親愛的弟兄姊妹,我現在寫給你們的是第二封信。這兩封信都是為了提醒你們,激勵你們保持真誠的心, 2叫你們記得從前聖先知們說的預言,以及我們的主和救主藉著派到你們那裡的使徒所傳給你們的誡命。

3最重要的是,你們要知道在末世的時候必出現喜歡冷嘲熱諷、為所欲為的人。他們說: 4「主要降臨的應許在哪裡?從我們的祖先長眠地下直到現在,萬物依舊與創世之初一樣。」 5他們故意忽略:太初,上帝憑口中的話語創造了諸天,並藉著水從水中造出了地; 6後來,那個世界被水淹沒而毀滅了。 7同樣,現在的天地要憑上帝的話語存留到不敬虔的人被審判和毀滅的日子,那時天地要被火焚燒。

8親愛的弟兄姊妹,有一件事你們不可忽略,就是主看一日如千年,千年如一日。 9主的應許還未實現,有人以為祂拖延,其實祂不是拖延,而是在寬容你們。祂不願任何人滅亡,願意人人悔改。 10不過,主再來的日子要像賊一樣突然臨到。那日,諸天必在一聲巨響中消失,有形有質的都要被烈火焚毀,大地和其中的一切將不復存在。

11-12一切都要這樣被焚毀,你們在熱切等候上帝來臨的日子期間,該怎樣過聖潔、敬虔的生活啊!因為到那日,天要被火焚毀,有形有質的都要被烈火熔化燒盡。 13但我們等候的是上帝應許的新天新地,有公義住在其中。

14所以,親愛的弟兄姊妹,你們既然盼望這些事,就當努力使自己在主面前毫無瑕疵,無可指責,安然無懼。 15你們要把耶穌的寬容看作是讓眾人得救的機會,正如我們親愛的弟兄保羅按著上帝賜給他的智慧寫信告訴你們的。 16他所有的書信都談到這些事。一些不學無術、反覆無常的人曲解了信中一些難懂的地方,就像曲解其他經文一樣,他們是自取滅亡。

17因此,親愛的弟兄姊妹,你們既然預先知道了這些事,就應該提防,不要讓那些不法之徒用錯謬的理論引誘你們,使你們失去原本堅固的立場。 18相反,你們要在我們的主和救主耶穌基督的恩典中不斷長進,越來越認識祂。

願榮耀歸給祂,從現在直到永遠。阿們!