11 Peter , an apostle of Jesus Christ , To those who reside as aliens , scattered throughout Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia , and Bithynia , who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father , by the sanctifying work of the Spirit , [1]to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood : May grace and peace [2]be yours in the fullest measure .
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead , 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away , reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time .
6 In this you greatly rejoice , even though now for a little while , if necessary , you have been distressed by various [3]trials , 7 so that the [4] proof of your faith , being more precious than gold which [5]is perishable , even though tested by fire , may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now , but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [6]full of glory , 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of [7]your souls .
10 As to this salvation , the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made e careful e searches and inquiries , 11 [8]seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [9]to follow e . 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves , but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -things into which angels long to [10]look .
13 Therefore , [11] prepare your minds for action, [12] keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace [13]to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ . 14 As [14] obedient children , do not [15] be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance , 15 but [16] like the Holy One who called you, [17] be holy yourselves also in all your behavior ; 16 because it is written , " YOU SHALL BE HOLY , FOR I AM HOLY ." 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work , conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not [18] redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers , 19 but with precious blood , as of a lamb unblemished and spotless , the blood of Christ . 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world , but has appeared [19]in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God , who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory , so that your faith and hope are in God . 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a [20] sincere love of the brethren , fervently love one another from [21]the heart , 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable , that is, through the living and enduring word of God .
24 For, " ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS , AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS . THE GRASS WITHERS , AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF , 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE Lord ENDURES FOREVER ." And this is the word which was [22]preached to you.
21 Therefore , putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander , 2 like newborn babies , long for the pure milk of the word , so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation , 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord .
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men , but is choice and precious in the sight of God , 5 you also , as living stones , are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood , to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ . 6 For this is contained in Scripture : " BEHOLD , I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE , A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED ." 7 This precious value , then , is for you who believe ; but for those who disbelieve , " THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED , THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, " A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE "; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word , and to this doom they were also appointed .
9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE , A royal PRIESTHOOD , A HOLY NATION , A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION , so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light ; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE , but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD ; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY , but now you have RECEIVED MERCY .
11 Beloved , I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul . 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles , so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers , they may because of your good deeds , as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation .
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution , whether to a king as the one in authority , 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right . 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men . 16 Act as free men , and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil , but use it as bondslaves of God . 17 Honor all people , love the brotherhood , fear God , honor the king .
18 Servants , be submissive to your masters with all respect , not only to those who are good and gentle , but also to those who are unreasonable . 19 For this finds favor , if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly . 20 For what credit is there if , when you sin and are harshly treated , you endure it with patience ? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God . 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps , 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN , NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH ; 23 and while being reviled , He did not revile in return ; while suffering , He uttered no threats , but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously ; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross , so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness ; for by His wounds you were healed . 25 For you were continually straying like sheep , but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls .
31 In the same way , you wives , be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word , they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives , 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior . 3 Your adornment must not be merely external -braiding the hair , and wearing gold jewelry , or putting on dresses ; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart , with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit , which is precious in the sight of God . 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also , who hoped in God , used to adorn themselves , being submissive to their own husbands ; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham , calling him lord , and you have become her children if you do what is right without e being frightened by any fear . 7 You husbands in the same way , live with your wives in an understanding way , as with someone weaker , since she is a woman ; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life , so that your prayers will not be hindered .
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious , sympathetic , brotherly , kindhearted , and humble in spirit ; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult , but giving a blessing instead ; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing . 10 For, " THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE , TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS , MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT . 11 " HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD ; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 " FOR THE EYES OF THE Lord ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS , AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER , BUT THE FACE OF THE Lord IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL ." 13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good ? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness , you are blessed . AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION , AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED , 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts , always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence ;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered , those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame . 17 For it is better , if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong .
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all , the just for the unjust , so that He might bring us to God , having been put to death in the flesh , but made alive in the spirit ; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison , 20 who once were disobedient , when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah , during the construction of the ark , in which a few , that is, eight persons , were brought safely through the water .
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you- not the removal of dirt from the flesh , but an appeal to God for a good conscience -through the resurrection of Jesus Christ , 22 who is at the right hand of God , having gone into heaven , after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
41 Therefore , since Christ has suffered in the flesh , arm yourselves also with the same purpose , because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin , 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men , but for the will of God . 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles , having pursued a course of sensuality , lusts , drunkenness , carousing , drinking parties and abominable idolatries .
4 In all this , they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation , and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead . 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead , that though they are judged in the flesh as men , they may live in the spirit according to the will of God .
7 The end of all things is near ; therefore , be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer . 8 Above all , keep fervent in your love for one another , because love covers a multitude of sins . 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint . 10 As each one has received a special gift , employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God . 11 Whoever e speaks , is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God ; whoever e serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies ; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ , to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever . Amen .
12 Beloved , do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing , as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ , keep on rejoicing , so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation . 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ , you are blessed , because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none e of you suffers as a murderer , or thief , or evildoer , or a troublesome meddler ; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian , he is not to be ashamed , but is to glorify God in this name . 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God ; and if it begins with us first , what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God ? 18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED , WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER ? 19 Therefore , those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right .
51 Therefore , I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ , and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed , 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion , but voluntarily , according to the will of God ; and not for sordid gain , but with eagerness ; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge , but proving to be examples to the flock . 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears , you will receive the unfading crown of glory .
5 You younger men , likewise , be subject to your elders ; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another , for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD , BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE . 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God , that He may exalt you at the proper time , 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert . Your adversary , the devil , prowls around like a roaring lion , seeking someone to devour . 9 But resist him, firm in your faith , knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world .
10 After you have suffered for a little while , the God of all grace , who called you to His eternal glory in Christ , will Himself perfect , confirm , strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever . Amen .
12 Through Silvanus , our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly , exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God . Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon , chosen together with you, sends you greetings , and so does my son , Mark . 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love . Peace be to you all who are in Christ .
