Epistula II Petri, 3

1. Hanc vobis, carissimi, iam se cundam scribo epistulam, in quibus excito vestram in commonitione sinceram mentem,

1. This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder;

2. ut memores sitis eorum, quae praedicta sunt verborum a sanctis prophetis, et ab apostolis traditi vobis praecepti Domini et Salvatoris;

2. that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3. hoc primum scientes, quod venient in novissimis diebus in illusione illudentes, iuxta proprias concupiscentias suas ambulantes,

3. First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions

4. dicentes: “Ubi est promissio adventus eius? Ex quo enim patres dormierunt, omnia sic perseverant ab initio creaturae”.

4. and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation."

5. Latet enim eos hoc volentes, quod caeli erant prius, et terra de aqua et per aquam consistens Dei verbo,

5. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water,

6. per quae ille tunc mundus aqua inundatus periit;

6. through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

7. caeli autem, qui nunc sunt, et terra eodem verbo repositi sunt igni, servati in diem iudicii et perditionis impiorum hominum.

7. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8. Unum vero hoc non lateat vos, carissimi, quia unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni, et mille anni sicut dies unus.

8. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9. Non tardat Dominus promissionem, sicut quidam tarditatem existimant, sed patienter agit in vos nolens aliquos perire, sed omnes ad paenitentiam reverti.

9. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

10. Adveniet autem dies Domini ut fur, in qua caeli magno impetu transient, elementa vero calore solventur, et terra et opera, quae in ea invenientur.

10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

11. Cum haec omnia ita dissolvenda sint, quales oportet esse vos in sanctis conversationibus et pietatibus,

11. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

12. exspectantes et properantes adventum diei Dei, propter quam caeli ardentes solventur, et elementa ignis ardore tabescent!

12. waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!

13. Novos vero caelos et terram novam secundum promissum ipsius exspectamus, in quibus iustitia habitat.

13. But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14. Propter quod, carissimi, haec exspectantes satagite immaculati et inviolati ei inveniri in pace;

14. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

15. et Domini nostri longanimitatem, salutem arbitramini, sicut et carissimus frater noster Paulus secundum datam sibi sapientiam scripsit vobis,

15. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

16. sicut et in omnibus epistulis loquens in eis de his; in quibus sunt quaedam difficilia intellectu, quae indocti et instabiles depravant, sicut et ceteras Scripturas, ad suam ipsorum perditionem.

16. speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

17. Vos igitur, dilecti, praescientes custodite, ne iniquorum errore simul abducti excidatis a propria firmitate;

17. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.

18. crescite vero in gratia et in cognitione Domini nostri et Salvatoris Iesu Christi. Ipsi gloria et nunc et in diem aeternitatis. Amen.

18. 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.