1 Peter 1–3

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,

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

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials,

7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

8whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

9receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

11searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.

12To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,

15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,

16because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,

18knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

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

20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake,

21who 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.

22Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

23having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;

25but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.

1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

2as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow,

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

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

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

6Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

7For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”

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

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.

13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme,

14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

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

16Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

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

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

19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

20For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

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

22who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

23When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

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

1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word,

2seeing your pure behavior in fear.

3Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,

4but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

5For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

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

7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

10For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?

14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.

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

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

20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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