Peter’s First Letter
1
1 Peter,
an apostle of
Jesus Christ,
to the chosen ones
who are living as
foreigners 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 with
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 caused
us to be born
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 In
this you greatly rejoice,
though now for
a little while,
if need be,
you have been
grieved 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 him,
though now
you don’t see him,
yet believing, you
rejoice greatly
with joy that
is 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.
They 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
they served not
themselves, but
you, in these
things, which now
have been announced
to you through
those who preached
the Good News
to you by
the Holy Spirit
sent out from
heaven; which
things angels desire
to look into.
13 Therefore prepare your
minds for action.
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 foreigners here
in reverent fear,
18 knowing
that you were
redeemed, not with
corruptible things
like silver or
gold, from the
useless way of life
handed down from
your fathers,
19 but
with precious blood,
as of a lamb
without blemish or spot,
the blood of
Christ,
20 who
was foreknown
indeed before the
foundation of the
world, but was
revealed in this
last age 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.