Greeting

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners scattered abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen

2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for ⁰you,

5who by the power of God are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials

7so that the proven character of your faith—far more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire—may result in praise, ¹honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8Although you ²once did not know him, you love him; although you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with an unspeakable and glorious joy,

9because you are receiving the end result of ³your faith—the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated,

11inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but ⁴you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

Be Holy

13Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

14As children of obedience, do not conform yourselves to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

15But just as he who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct,

16for it is written, “ ⁵Be holy, because I am holy.”

17If you call on the Father who judges without partiality according to each person's work, pass the time of your sojourn in reverent fear.

18For you know that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold,

19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the ⁶last times for your sake.

21Through him you ⁷believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

22Since you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth ⁸through the Spirit, resulting in genuine brotherly love, love one another deeply, from ⁹a pure heart.

23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the ¹⁰word of God that lives and abides forever.

24For,
“All flesh is like grass,
and all ¹¹the glory of man is like a flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and ¹²its flower falls,

25but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
This word is the good news that was preached to you.