^{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.