1 P ietro, apostolo di Gesú Cristo, agli eletti che risiedono come stranieri, dispersi nel Ponto, nella Galazia, nella Cappadocia, nell'Asia e nella Bitinia,

This letter is from Peter, a missionary of Jesus Christ. I am writing to those who were taken away from their homeland and are living in the countries of Pontus and Galatia and Cappadocia and Asia and Bithynia.

2 e letti secondo la preordinazione di Dio Padre, mediante la santificazione dello Spirito, per ubbidire e per essere aspersi col sangue di Gesú Cristo: grazia e pace vi siano moltiplicate.

You were chosen by God the Father long ago. He knew you were to become His children. You were set apart for holy living by the Holy Spirit. May you obey Jesus Christ and be made clean by His blood. May you be full of His loving-favor and peace.

3 B enedetto sia il Dio e Padre del Signor nostro Gesú Cristo, il quale nella sua grande misericordia ci ha rigenerati, a una viva speranza per mezzo della risurrezione di Gesú Cristo dai morti,

Let us thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through His loving-kindness that we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead.

4 p er un'eredità incorruttibile, incontaminata e immarcescibile, conservata nei cieli per voi

We will receive the great things that we have been promised. They are being kept safe in heaven for us. They are pure and will not pass away. They will never be lost.

5 c he dalla potenza di Dio mediante la fede siete custoditi, per la salvezza che sarà prontamente rivelata negli ultimi tempi.

You are being kept by the power of God because you put your trust in Him and you will be saved from the punishment of sin at the end of the world.

6 A motivo di questo voi gioite anche se al presente, per un podi tempo, dovete essere afflitti da varie prove,

With this hope you can be happy even if you need to have sorrow and all kinds of tests for awhile.

7 a ffinché la prova della vostra fede, che è molto piú preziosa dell'oro che perisce anche se vien provato col fuoco, risulti a lode, onore e gloria nella rivelazione di Gesú Cristo,

These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again.

8 c he, pur non avendolo visto, voi amate e, credendo in lui anche se ora non lo vedete, voi esultate di una gioia ineffabile e gloriosa,

You have never seen Him but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. And you have joy so great that words cannot tell about it.

9 o ttenendo il compimento della vostra fede, la salvezza delle anime.

You will get what your faith is looking for, which is to be saved from the punishment of sin.

10 I ntorno a questa salvezza ricercarono e investigarono i profeti che profetizzarono della grazia destinata a voi,

The early preachers tried to find out how to be saved. They told of the loving-favor that would come to you.

11 c ercando di conoscere il tempo e le circostanze che erano indicate dallo Spirito di Cristo che era in loro, e che attestava anticipatamente delle sofferenze che sarebbero toccate a Cristo e delle glorie che le avrebbero seguite.

The early preachers wondered at what time or to what person this would happen. The Spirit of Christ in them was talking to them and told them to write about how Christ would suffer and about His shining-greatness later on.

12 A loro fu rivelato che, non per se stessi ma per noi, amministravano quelle cose che ora vi sono state annunziate da coloro che vi hanno predicato l'evangelo, mediante lo Spirito Santo mandato dal cielo; cose nelle quali gli angeli desiderano riguardare addentro.

They knew these things would not happen during the time they lived but while you are living many years later. These are the very things that were told to you by those who preached the Good News. The Holy Spirit Who was sent from heaven gave them power and they told of things that even the angels would like to know about. Holy Living

13 P erciò, avendo cinti i lombi della vostra mente, siate vigilanti, e riponete piena speranza nella grazia che vi sarà conferita nella rivelazione di Gesú Cristo.

Get your minds ready for good use. Keep awake. Set your hope now and forever on the loving-favor to be given you when Jesus Christ comes again.

14 C ome figli ubbidienti, non conformatevi alle concupiscenze del tempo passato, quando eravate nell'ignoranza,

Be like children who obey. Do not desire to sin like you used to when you did not know any better.

15 m a come colui che vi ha chiamati è santo, voi pure siate santi in tutta la vostra condotta,

Be holy in every part of your life. Be like the Holy One Who chose you.

16 p oiché sta scritto: «Siate santi, perché io sono santo».

The Holy Writings say, “You must be holy, for I am holy.”

17 E se invocate come Padre colui che senza favoritismi di persona giudica secondo l'opera di ciascuno, conducetevi con timore per tutto il tempo del vostro pellegrinaggio,

The Father is the One Who judges you by what you do. He does not respect one person more than another. If you call Him Father, be sure you honor Him with love and fear all the days of your life here on earth.

18 s apendo che non con cose corruttibili, come argento od oro, siete stati riscattati dal vostro vano modo di vivere tramandatovi dai padri,

You know you were not bought and made free from sin by paying gold or silver which comes to an end. And you know you were not saved from the punishment of sin by the way of life that you were given from your early fathers. That way of life was worth nothing.

19 m a col prezioso sangue di Cristo, come di Agnello senza difetto e senza macchia,

The blood of Christ saved you. This blood is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. Christ was given as a lamb without sin and without spot.

20 p reconosciuto prima della fondazione del mondo, ma manifestato negli ultimi tempi per voi,

Long before the world was made, God chose Christ to be given to you in these last days.

21 c he per mezzo di lui credete in Dio che lo ha risuscitato dai morti e gli ha dato gloria, affinché la vostra fede e speranza fossero in Dio.

Because of Christ, you have put your trust in God. He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great honor. So now your faith and hope are in God. The Living Word

22 A vendo purificato le anime vostre con l'ubbidienza alla verità mediante lo Spirito, per avere un amore fraterno senza alcuna simulazione, amatevi intensamente gli uni gli altri di puro cuore,

You have made your souls pure by obeying the truth through the Holy Spirit. This has given you a true love for the Christians. Let it be a true love from the heart.

23 p erché siete stati rigenerati non da un seme corruttibile, ma incorruttibile, per mezzo della parola di Dio vivente e che dura in eterno.

You have been given a new birth. It was from a seed that cannot die. This new life is from the Word of God which lives forever.

24 P oiché ogni carne è come l'erba ed ogni gloria d'uomo è come il fiore dell'erba; l'erba si secca e il fiore cade,

All people are like grass. Their greatness is like the flowers. The grass dries up and the flowers fall off.

25 m a la parola del Signore rimane in eterno; e questa è la parola che vi è stata annunziata.

But the Word of the Lord will last forever. That Word is the Good News which was preached to you.