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.
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