The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Parallel translations
- WEB the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
- BSB if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
- NKJV then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
- NASB then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
- NLT So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter concludes that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. It matters because it assures believers of deliverance and warns the wicked of certain judgment.
Overview
This verse draws the lesson from the preceding examples. The same God who judged angels, the ancient world, Sodom, and spared Noah and Lot still rescues his people and reserves the wicked for judgment. Believers can trust God's faithfulness, and false teachers are warned of inescapable accountability.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 34:15–19The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
- 1 Cor 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- Rev 3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
- 2 Tim 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Jude 1:14–15And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
- 2 Pet 3:7But 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.
- 2 Cor 5:10–11For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
- Prov 16:4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
- Job 5:19He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
- Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
- 2 Pet 2:4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
- Ps 4:3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
- Rom 2:5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- Job 21:30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
- Ps 32:6For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
- Ps 12:1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
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Original language
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