< 1 Peter 1 >
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
To the people of God who are living abroad, dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia,
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
and who were chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the consecration of the Spirit, to learn obedience, and to be purified by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. May blessing and peace be yours in ever increasing measure.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has, in his great mercy, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
given us the new life of undying hope, that promises an inheritance, imperishable, stainless, unfading, which has been reserved for you in heaven –
5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
for you who, through faith, are being guarded by the power of God, awaiting a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
At the thought of this you are full of exultation, though (if it has been necessary) you have suffered for the moment somewhat from various trials;
7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
that the genuineness of your faith – a thing far more precious than gold, which is perishable, yet has to be tested by fire – may win praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Though you have never seen him, yet you love him; though you do not even now see him, yet you believe in him, and exalt with a triumphant happiness too great for words,
9 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
as you receive the reward of your faith in the salvation of your souls!
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
It was this salvation that the prophets, who spoke long ago of the blessing intended for you, sought, and strove to comprehend;
11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the sufferings that Christ would have to endure, and the glories that would follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
And it was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were acting as Ministers of the truths which have now been told to you, by those who, with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, have brought you the good news – truths into which even angels long to look.
13 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Therefore concentrate your minds, with the strictest self-control, and fix your hopes on the blessing that is coming for you at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
Be like obedient children; do not let your lives be shaped by the passions which once swayed you in the days of your ignorance,
15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
but in your whole life show yourselves to be holy, after the pattern of the Holy One from whom you received your call.
16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
For scripture says – “You will be holy, because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
And since you call on him as “Father,” who judges everyone impartially by what he has done, let respectful awe be the spirit of your lives during the time of your stay on earth.
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
For you know that it was not by perishable things, such as silver and gold, that you were ransomed from the aimless way of living which was handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
but by precious blood, as it were of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
20 He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
Destined for this before the beginning of the world, he has been revealed in these last days for your sakes,
21 Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.
who, through him, are faithful to God who raised him from the dead and gave him honour, so that your faith and hope are now in God.
22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
Now that, by your obedience to the truth, you have purified your lives, so that there is growing up among you a genuine affection, love one another earnestly with all your hearts;
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (aiōn )
since your new life has come, not from perishable, but imperishable, seed, through the message of the Everliving God. (aiōn )
24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
For – “All earthly life is but as grass, and all its splendour as the flower of grass. The grass fades, its flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you. (aiōn )
but the teaching of the Lord remains for ever.” And that is the teaching of the good news which has been told to you. (aiōn )