1 PETER 1 [†]Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of  a the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2[†]according to  b the foreknowledge of God the Father,  c in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and  d for sprinkling with his blood:

May  e grace and  f peace be multiplied to you.

3[†] g Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  h According to his great mercy,  i he has caused us to be born again to a living hope  j through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4[†]to  k an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and  l unfading,  m kept in heaven for you, 5[†]who by God’s power are being guarded  n through faith for a salvation  o ready to be revealed in the last time. 6[†]In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by  p various trials, 7so that  q the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes  r though it is tested by  s fire—may be found to result in  t praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8[†] u Though you have not seen him, you love him.  v Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining  w the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10[†]Concerning this salvation,  x the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11inquiring  y what person or time  z the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating  a when he predicted  b the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12[†] c It was revealed to them that  d they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you  e by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,  f things into which angels long to look.

13[†]Therefore,  g preparing your minds for action, [1] and  h being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14[†]As obedient children,  i do not be conformed to the passions  j of your former ignorance, 15but  k as he who called you is holy, you also be holy  l in all your conduct, 16since it is written,  m “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17[†]And if you  n call on him as Father who  o judges  p impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves  q with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18[†]knowing that you  r were ransomed from  s the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19but  t with the precious blood of Christ, like that of  u a lamb  v without blemish or spot. 20[†]He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but  w was made manifest  x in the last times for the sake of you 21 y who through him are believers in God,  z who raised him from the dead and  a gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22[†]Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for  b a sincere brotherly love,  c love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23[†] d since you have been born again,  e not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through  f the living and abiding word of God; 24[†]for

 g “All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25  h but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word  i is the good news that was preached to you.