From ·Simon [^LSimeon; ^Ca version of Simon closer to the Hebrew name] Peter, a ·servant [slave] and apostle of Jesus Christ. To ·you [^Lthose] who have received a faith as ·valuable [precious; privileged] as ours, ·because our God and Savior Jesus Christ does what is right [or through the righteousness/justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ].

·But [or For] anyone who does not have these things ·cannot see clearly [is nearsighted]. He is blind [1 John 2:11; Rev. 3:17] ·and [or because he] has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.

I think it is right for me to ·help you remember [^Larouse you with a reminder] as long as I am in this ·body [^Ltent; ^Ca metaphor for the transitory earthly body].

[^LFor] ·Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory [^LWhen that voice came to him from the Majestic Glory], when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him [^Ca reference to the Transfiguration; Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35].”

·This makes us more sure about the message the prophets gave [or And we also have a reliable message from the prophets; ^LAnd we have the prophetic word confirmed; ^Cprobably referring to the Old Testament]. ·It is good for you [You do well] to follow closely what they said as you would follow a ·light [^Llamp] shining in a dark place, until the day ·begins [^Ldawns] and the morning star rises in your hearts [Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16; ^Cthe planet Venus as seen before sunrise, here symbolizing Christ].

·Most [First] of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ·ever comes from the prophet’s own interpretation [or is a matter of one’s own interpretation].

·Those false teachers only want your money, so [^LIn their greed] they will ·use [exploit] you ·by telling you lies [with deceptive/false words]. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is ·still coming [not idle], and their ruin ·is certain [does not sleep].

[^LFor if] When angels sinned, God did not ·let them go free without punishment [spare them]. [^LBut] He sent them to ·hell [^LTartarus; ^Ca Greek term for the underworld] and put them in caves of darkness where they are being held for judgment [Gen. 6:1–4; Jude 6].

That punishment is especially for those who ·live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want [^Lgo after the flesh with defiling passion/lust] and who ·hate [despise] authority [Jude 8]. These false teachers are bold and ·do anything they want [arrogant; self-willed]. They ·are not afraid [^Ldo not tremble] to ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [^Lthe glorious ones; ^Cprobably angelic beings; unclear whether referring to good or evil angels; Jude 8].

·They have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done [^L…suffering harm as the wage of unrighteousness; ^Ca wordplay based on the similarity of the Greek words translated “suffering harm” and “unrighteousness”]. They take pleasure in ·openly doing evil [doing evil/carousing in the daylight], so they are like dirty spots and ·stains [blemishes] among you. They delight in deceiving you while ·eating meals [or feasting] with you [^Cperhaps an allusion to the fellowship meal, or “love feast,” celebrated with the Lord’s Supper; Jude 12].

·Every time they look at a woman they want her [^LThey have eyes full of adultery], and ·their desire for sin is never satisfied [or they never stop sinning]. They ·lead weak people into the trap of sin [ensnare/entice/lure unstable people/souls], and they have ·taught [exercised; trained] their hearts to be greedy. ·God will punish them [^LAccursed children; ^Cunder God’s curse]!

These false teachers ·left [abandoned] the ·right [or straight] road and ·lost their way [wandered away; went astray], following the way Balaam went. Balaam, the son of ·Beor [or Bosor], loved ·being paid for doing wrong [^Lthe wages of unrighteousness; Num. 25; 31:16; Rev. 2:14].

But a donkey, which cannot talk, ·told Balaam he was sinning [^Lrebuked his wrongdoing]. It spoke with a ·man’s [human] voice and stopped the prophet’s ·crazy thinking [madness; Num. 22:21–35; Jude 11].

They ·brag with [speak with bombastic, boastful] words that ·mean nothing [are empty]. By their ·evil [fleshly] desires they ·lead people into the trap of sin—[entice] people who ·are just beginning to escape [or have barely escaped] from others who live in error.

They ·were made free [escaped] from the ·evil [depravity; defilement] in the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But if they ·return to [^Lget entangled again with] evil things and those things ·control [master; overpower; defeat] them, then ·it is worse for them than it was before [their last/final state is worse than the first; Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:26].

What they did is like this true ·saying [proverb; parable]: “A dog ·goes back to what it has thrown up [^Treturns to its vomit; Prov. 26:11],” and, “After a pig is washed, it goes back and rolls in the mud.”

Jesus Will Come Again

·My friends [^LBeloved], this is [^Lnow] the second letter I have written you [^Cthe first is probably 1 Peter] to ·help your honest minds remember [^Lawaken/arouse your sincere understanding/intentions with a reminder].

It is most important for you to understand what will happen in the last days. ·People [^LScoffers] will ·laugh at [scoff at; ridicule] you. They will ·live doing the evil things they want to do [indulge their own desires/lusts; Jude 18].

[^LAnd] They will say, “·Jesus promised to come again. Where is he [^LWhere is his promised coming]? [^LFor] Our ·fathers [ancestors] have ·died [^Lfallen asleep], but ·the world [^Lall things] continues the way it has been since ·it was made [it began with creation].”

And that same word of God is ·keeping [reserving; holding in store] heaven and earth that we now have in order to be destroyed by fire [Deut. 32:22; Is. 66:15–16; Zeph. 1:18; Mal. 4:1]. They are being kept for the judgment day and the destruction of ·all who are against God [^Lthe ungodly/impious people].

But do not forget [ignore; miss] this one thing, ·dear friends [^Lbeloved]: To the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day [^Cour perception of time is not the same as God’s; Ps. 90:4].

The Lord is not ·slow [or late] in doing what he promised—the way some people understand ·slowness [lateness; Hab. 2:3]. But God is being patient with you [Ex. 34:6]. He does not want anyone to ·be lost [perish], but he wants all people to ·change their hearts and lives [^Lcome to repentance].

But God made a promise to us [Is. 65:17; 66:22], and we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth where ·goodness [righteousness] ·lives [makes its home].

[^LTherefore] ·Dear friends [^LBeloved], ·since [or while] you are waiting for this to happen, ·do your best [make every effort; strive] to be [^Lfound] without ·sin [^Lspot] and without ·fault [^Lblemish; ^Cthe characteristics of the false teachers in 2:13]. ·Try [Make every effort; Strive] to be at peace with God.

·Remember [Consider; Bear in mind] that ·we are saved because our Lord is patient [^Lour Lord’s patience is our salvation; ^Chis delay in coming allows more to be saved]. Our ·dear [^Lbeloved] brother Paul told you the same thing when he wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.