overb: A dog, returned to his own
vomit; and, A sow that was washed, to the wallowing in the mire.

III.

THIS second letter, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir
up your pure mind by putting you in remembrance; (2)that ye may be
mindful of the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of the Lord and Savior by your apostles; (3)knowing this
first, that there shall come in the last of the days scoffers, in
their scoffings, walking after their own lusts, (4)and saying: Where
is the promise of his coming? for from the day the fathers fell
asleep, all things so continue, from the beginning of the creation.
(5)For of this they willingly are ignorant, that by the word of God
there were heavens of old, and earth framed out of water and by means
of water, (6)whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished; (7)but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by
his word are kept in store, being reserved for fire unto the day of
judgment and of perdition of ungodly men.

(8)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.
(9)The Lord is not tardy in respect to the promise, as some account
tardiness; but is long-suffering toward us[3:9], not wishing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10)But the day
of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens will pass away
with a rushing noise, and the elements will be dissolved with burning
heat, and the earth and the works therein will be burned up.

(11)Seeing then that all these things are dissolving, what manner of
men ought ye to be, in all holy deportment and godliness; (12)looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the
heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt
with burning heat? (13)But, according to his promise, we look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

(14)Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, be
diligent that ye may be found without spot and blameless in his sight,
in peace. (15)And the long-suffering of our Lord account salvation; as
also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him,
wrote to you; (16)as also in all his letters, speaking in them of
these things; in which things are some that are hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as also the o