³ this first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,

⁴ and saying, `Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'

⁵ for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,