1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are
living as strangers in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in
sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled
in his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became
our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that
doesn’t fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God
are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. 6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while,
if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, 7 that the
proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even
though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and
honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ — 8 whom not having known you
love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you
rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory — 9 receiving the
result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this
salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the
grace that would come to you, 11 searching for who or what kind of time
the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the
sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them. 12 To them
it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, did they minister these
things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels
desire to look into.
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action,*1 be sober and set your hope fully on the grace
that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ — 14 as
children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former
lusts as in your ignorance, 15 but just as he who called you is holy,
you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is
written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.” 17 If you call on
him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s
work, pass the time of your living as strangers here in reverent fear:
18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with
silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, the blood of
Christ; 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world,
but was revealed at the end of times for your sake, 21 who through him are
believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that
your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth
through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the
heart fervently: 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but
of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
24 For,
“All flesh is like grass,
And all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls;
25 But the Lord’s word endures forever.”
This is the word of good news which was preached to you.
1 Literally, “gird up
the loins of your mind”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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