A Living Hope

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to the obedience of Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various [†]trials, 7so that the [†]proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which [†]is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and [†]full of glory, 9receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of [†]your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries, 11[†]inquiring to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories [†]to follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to [†]look.

13Therefore, having [†]girded your minds for action, [†]being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace [†]to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As [†]obedient children, not [†]being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15but [†]like the Holy One who called you, [†]be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; 16because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

17And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves [†]in fear during the time of your sojourn, 18knowing that you were not [†]redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your futile conduct inherited from your forefathers, 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but appeared [†]in these last times for the sake of you 21who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a love of the brothers without hypocrisy, fervently love one another from [†]the heart, 23for you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,

AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

THE GRASS WITHERS,

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

25BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was [†]proclaimed to you as good news.