1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are temporary dwellers of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to be obedient and sprinkled by 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 great mercy begat us 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 you who by the power of God are guarded through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein you greatly rejoice; though now, for a little while, if need be, you have suffered many trials,

7 so that the proof of your faith (more precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire) may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

8 whom you love though you have not seen him. On whom you believe, though now you do not see him, and rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible 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, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you;

11 searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.

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 forth from heaven. Which things the Angels desire to look into.

13 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope completely on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As children of obedience, do not be conformed to the lusts you had in your former ignorance.

15 But like He who called you is holy, be you yourselves holy in all manner of living.

16 Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

17 And if you call on Him as Father, who without partiality judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear.

18 Knowing you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;

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

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times 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 to sincere love of the brothers, fervently love one another from the heart.

23 Having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and endures.

24 For, All flesh is as grass and all the glory of it as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word of good news which was preached to you.

2

1 Therefore, put away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisies, envies and all evil speaking.

2 Be as newborn babes, longing for the spiritual milk which is without deceit, so that you may grow thereby to salvation,

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

4 Come to him as to a living stone, indeed rejected by men but chosen by God and precious.

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

6 Because it is contained in scripture: Look, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, chosen, precious. And he that believes in him shall not stumble.

7 Therefore, for you that believe he is precious. But to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,

8 a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. For being disobedient, they stumble at the word; to which they also were appointed.

9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

10 Who in times past were no people but now are the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as temporary residents and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. Whether to the king, as supreme leader,

14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evil-doers and for the praise of those that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16 As free and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

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

18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh.

19 For it is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief - suffering unjustly.

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

21 For this were you called. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps.

22 He did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 Who, when he was insulted, did not retaliate with insults, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him that judges righteously.

24 Who himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

25 For you were going astray like sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

3

1 In like manner, you wives be in subjection to your husbands. That, even if any do not obey the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour of their wives,

2 seeing your chaste behaviour coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning, let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;

4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great value.

5 For after this manner, in the past, the holy women who trusted in God also made themselves beautiful by submitting to their husbands.

6 As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. Whose children you now are, if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.

7 You husbands, in like manner live with your wife with understanding, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers are not impeded.

8 Finally, all of you, be likeminded, compassionate, loving as brothers, sensitive, humble.

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but instead give blessing. For this were you called, that you should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that would love life and see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil and restrain his lips so they speak no lies.

11 And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if you be zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled,

15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord, always ready to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.

16 Having a good conscience, that, when you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

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

18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

19 In which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 that previously were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was prepared. Wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21 Which is also a true likeness of how baptism does now save you: not the washing away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 Who is the one at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

4

1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind. For he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

2 You should no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime doing the will of the Gentiles- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, and so speak evil of you- you

5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead!

6 For to this end was the gospel preached to those now 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. Therefore, be of sound mind and sober in prayer,

8 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves. For love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to each other without complaining;

10 according as each has received a gift, minister it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as if it were oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To whom belongs the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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

13 But insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice! That at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you.

15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters.

16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in this name.

17 For the time of judgment begins at the house of God, and if we are judged first, what shall be the outcome of those that do not obey the gospel of God?

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

19 Therefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls in doing well to a faithful Creator.

5

1 The elders among you I urge (I who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who is also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed),

2 tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not reservedly but willingly, according to the will of God; not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.

3 Neither lord it over those entrusted to you, but make yourselves examples to the flock.

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

5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder men. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another. For God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time;

7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil, like a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.

9 Stand firm in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brothers who are in the world.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, shall Himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

11 To Him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it!

13 She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you, and so does Marcus my son.

14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all that are in Christ.