2 Peter 3:5

For they deliberately suppress this fact, ¹  that by the word of God ²  heavens existed long ago and an earth ³  was formed out of water and by means of water.

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water.

They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word.

But in taking this view they put out of their minds the memory that in the old days there was a heaven, and an earth lifted out of the water and circled by water, by the word of God;

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

For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

For they deliberately suppress this fact, ¹  that by the word of God ²  heavens existed long ago and an earth ³  was formed out of water and by means of water.

¹ tn The Greek is difficult at this point. An alternative is “Even though they maintain this, it escapes them that…” Literally the idea seems to be: “For this escapes these [men] who wish [it to be so].”

² tn The word order in Greek places “the word of God” at the end of the sentence. See discussion in the note on “these things” in v. 6.

³ tn Or “land,” “the earth.”