1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has given us a new birth to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

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

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if it must be, you are in sadness through manifold temptations:

7 That the testing of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, may result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the outcome of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow.

12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he who has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conduct;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17 And if you call on the Father, who without regard for status judges according to everyone's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Seeing that you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, from your unprofitable way of life received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who truly was appointed in advance before the foundation of the world, but was made known in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit for genuine love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart earnestly:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and continues for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls away:

25 But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.

2

1 Therefore laying aside all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envy, and all evil speaking,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:

3 If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious,

5 You also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, chosen and precious: and he who believes in him shall not be disgraced.

7 To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10 Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I appeal to you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conduct honest among the Gentiles: that, although they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every government authority for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14 Or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free, and not using your liberty as a covering for maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust.

19 For this is pleasing, if a man for the sake of conscience before God endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if when you are beaten for your faults, you shall take it patiently? But if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was insulted, did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.

25 For you were like sheep going astray; but have now returned to the Shepherd and Leader of your souls.

3

1 Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any do not obey the word, they also may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives;

2 While they see your chaste conduct coupled with fear,

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of interweaving the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of garments;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great value.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any alarm.

7 Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; so that your prayers are not hindered.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion on one another, love as brethren, be tenderhearted, be courteous:

9 Not repaying evil for evil, or insults for insults: but on the contrary blessing; knowing that you are called to this, that you should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him turn from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if you are followers of that which is good?

14 But if you suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, although they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;

20 Which at one time were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built, in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 This represents baptism which also now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the response of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22 Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

4

1 Seeing then that Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same attitude: for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3 For the time of our life that is past is sufficient for us to have done the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in corrupt passions, lusts, excess of wine, reveling, banqueting, and abominable idolatries:

4 In which they think it strange that you do not run with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For this is why the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch even to prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover a multitude of sins.

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

10 As every person has received a gift, even so minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak like a messenger of God; if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:

13 But rejoice, to the extent that you are sharers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: by them he is evil spoken of, but by you he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's affairs.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God because of it.

17 For the time has come that judgment must begin at the household of God: and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.

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1 The elders who are among you I urge, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for unjust gain, but eagerly;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.

5 Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your cares on him; for he cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks around, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist firmly established in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are experienced by your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I consider him, I have written briefly, encouraging, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

13 The church that is at Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.