1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,1 To God’s elect,2 exiles3 scattered4 throughout the provinces of Pontus,5 Galatia,6 Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,7
2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge1 of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,2 to be obedient3 to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:4 Grace and peace be yours in abundance.5
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!1 In his great mercy2 he has given us new birth3 into a living hope4 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,5
4and into an inheritance1 that can never perish, spoil or fade.2 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,3
5who through faith are shielded by God’s power1 until the coming of the salvation2 that is ready to be revealed3 in the last time.
6In all this you greatly rejoice,1 though now for a little while2 you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.3
7These have come so that the proven genuineness1 of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire2 —may result in praise, glory and honor3 when Jesus Christ is revealed.4
8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him1 and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke1 of the grace that was to come to you,2 searched intently and with the greatest care,3
11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ1 in them was pointing when he predicted2 the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,1 when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you2 by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.3 Even angels long to look into these things.
13Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,1 set your hope2 on the grace to be brought to you3 when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.4
14As obedient1 children, do not conform2 to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.3
15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;1
16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”a1
17Since you call on a Father1 who judges each person’s work2 impartially,3 live out your time as foreigners4 here in reverent fear.5
18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed1 from the empty way of life2 handed down to you from your ancestors,
19but with the precious blood1 of Christ, a lamb2 without blemish or defect.3
20He was chosen before the creation of the world,1 but was revealed in these last times2 for your sake.
21Through him you believe in God,1 who raised him from the dead2 and glorified him,3 and so your faith and hope4 are in God.
22Now that you have purified1 yourselves by obeying2 the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,3 from the heart.a
23For you have been born again,1 not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,2 through the living and enduring word of God.3
24For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord endures forever.”a1 And this is the word that was preached to you.