2 Peter 3

1 Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

1 Wapenzi, huu ndio waraka wangu wa pili ninaowaandikia. Katika nyaraka hizi mbili ninajaribu kuziamsha nia zenu safi kwa mawazo makamilifu.

2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

2 Nataka ninyi mkumbuke maneno yaliyosemwa zamani na manabii watakatifu na ile amri ya Bwana na Mwokozi mliyopewa kupitia kwa mitume wenu.

3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

3 Kwanza kabisa, ni lazima mfahamu ya kwamba siku za mwisho watakuja watu wenye dhihaka, wakidhihaki na kuzifuata tamaa zao mbaya.

4 “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

4 Watasema, “Iko wapi ile ahadi ya kuja kwake? Tangu baba zetu walipofariki, kila kitu kinaendelea kama kilivyokuwa tangu mwanzo wa kuumbwa.”

5 But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

5 Lakini wao kwa makusudi hupuuza ukweli huu, ya kwamba kwa neno la Mungu mbingu zilikuwepo tangu zamani, nayo dunia ilifanyizwa kutoka ndani ya maji na kwa maji.

6 through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

6 Ulimwengu wa wakati ule uligharikishwa kwa hayo maji na kuangamizwa.

7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

7 Lakini kwa neno lilo hilo, mbingu za sasa na dunia zimewekwa akiba kwa ajili ya moto, zikihifadhiwa hadi siku ile ya hukumu na ya kuangamizwa kwa watu wasiomcha Mungu.

8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

8 Lakini wapenzi, msisahau neno hili: kwamba kwa Bwana, siku moja ni kama miaka elfu, na miaka elfu ni kama siku moja.

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

9 Bwana hakawii kuitimiza ahadi yake, kama watu wengine wanavyokudhani kukawia. Badala yake, yeye anawavumilia ninyi, maana hataki mtu yeyote aangamie, bali kila mtu afikilie toba.

10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

10 Lakini siku ya Bwana itakuja kama mwizi. Ndipo mbingu zitatoweka kwa kishindo kikuu; navyo vitu vya asili vitateketezwa kwa moto, nayo dunia na kila kitu kilichomo ndani yake kitaunguzwa.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

11 Kwa kuwa vitu vyote vitaharibiwa namna hii, je, ninyi imewapasa kuwa watu wa namna gani? Inawapasa kuishi maisha matakatifu na ya kumcha Mungu,

12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

12 mkingojea na kuhimiza kuja kwa hiyo siku ya Mungu. Siku hiyo italeta mbingu kuchomwa moto na kutoweka, na vitu vya asili vitayeyuka kwa moto.

13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

13 Lakini kufuatana na ahadi yake, sisi tunatazamia mbingu mpya na dunia mpya, ambayo haki hukaa ndani yake.

14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

14 Kwa sababu hii, wapenzi, kwa kuwa mnatazamia mambo haya, fanyeni bidii ili awakute katika amani, bila mawaa wala dosari.

15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.

15 Hesabuni uvumilivu wa Bwana kuwa ni wokovu, kama vile ndugu yetu mpenzi Paulo alivyowaandikia kwa hekima ile aliyopewa na Mungu.

16 He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

16 Huandika vivyo hivyo katika nyaraka zake zote, akizungumzia ndani yake mambo haya. Katika nyaraka zake kuna mambo mengine ambayo ni vigumu kuyaelewa, ambayo watu wajinga na wasio thabiti huyapotosha kwa maangamizi yao wenyewe, kama wapotoshavyo pia Maandiko mengine.

17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

17 Basi, ninyi wapenzi, kwa kuwa mmekwisha kujua mambo haya, jilindeni msije mkachukuliwa na kosa la watu hao waasi na kuanguka kutoka kwenye uthabiti wenu.

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.

18 Bali kueni katika neema na katika kumjua Bwana na Mwokozi wetu Yesu Kristo. Utukufu una yeye sasa na milele! Amen.