Interplanner said:
v5a The heavens existed. 'ekpalai' To have existed for a long time. The NEB is not reliable here when it puts heavens and earth together as the subject. The NIV is correct.
All the versions describe the creation event in Genesis 1
New International Version
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
New Living Translation
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.
English Standard Version
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
Berean Study Bible
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,
Berean Literal Bible
For this is concealed from them willingly, that heavens existed long ago and*the*earth, having been composed out of water and through water, by the word of God,
New American Standard Bible*
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,
King James Bible
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God.