^{3 Ref} Having first of all the knowledge that in the last days there will be men who, ruled by their evil desires, will make sport of holy things,

^{4 Ref} Saying, Where is the hope of his coming? From the death of the fathers till now everything has gone on as it was from the making of the world.

^{5 Ref} But in taking this view they put out of their minds the memory that in the old days there was a heaven, and an earth lifted out of the water and circled by water, by the word of God;

^{6 Ref} And that the world which then was came to an end through the overflowing of the waters.

^{7 Ref} But the present heaven and the present earth have been kept for destruction by fire, which is waiting for them on the day of the judging and destruction of evil men.

^{8 Ref} But, my loved ones, keep in mind this one thing, that with the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years are no more than one day.

^{3 Ref} knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,

^{4 Ref} and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

^{5 Ref} For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

^{6 Ref} by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

^{7 Ref} but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

^{8 Ref} But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

^{3 Ref} Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

^{4 Ref} And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

^{5 Ref} For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

^{6 Ref} Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

^{7 Ref} But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

^{8 Ref} But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.