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2 Peter 2:9
ESV then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
NIV if 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.
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,
CSB then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials 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.
KJV The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
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,

What does 2 Peter 2:9 mean?

Peter finally concludes his long "if" statement by arriving at the "then." This is his conclusion.

The point of this lengthy statement has been this: God's judgment is coming. The false teachers in the church will be condemned and destroyed. This is not a question of "if" God will repay, only "when." If God condemned the rebellious angels and the world of Noah's day and Sodom and Gomorrah, then He won't hold back in condemning those rebelling against Him now.

But there's more to the sentence: If God saved Noah and Lot, men He declared to be righteous, He will also save those He declares to be righteous now. God knows how to do both. He knows how to rescue His people, the ones He declares to be godly, from trials. And He knows how to hold those who are ungodly to be punished for their rebellion on the coming day of His judgment.

The message is clear. We may be tempted to look at the world and think that those who oppose God are winning. It may seem that standing with God costs more than it's worth. We must never forget that God is still paying attention. Destruction will come, and so will salvation. The faithfulness we demonstrate today will be vindicated, one day.
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