1 P eter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2 a ccording to a foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied!

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

3 B lessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the abundance of His kindness did beget us again to a living hope, through the rising again of Jesus Christ out of the dead,

Blessed 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,

4 t o an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you,

to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 w ho, in the power of God are being guarded, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time,

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

6 i n which ye are glad, a little now, if it be necessary, being made to sorrow in manifold trials,

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7 t hat the proof of your faith -- much more precious than of gold that is perishing, and through fire being approved -- may be found to praise, and honour, and glory, in the revelation of Jesus Christ,

so 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;

8 w hom, not having seen, ye love, in whom, now not seeing and believing, ye are glad with joy unspeakable and glorified,

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9 r eceiving the end of your faith -- salvation of souls;

obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

10 c oncerning which salvation seek out and search out did prophets who concerning the grace toward you did prophecy,

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

11 s earching in regard to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was manifesting, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory after these,

seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12 t o whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who did proclaim good news to you,) in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, to which things messengers do desire to bend looking.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

13 W herefore having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, hope perfectly upon the grace that is being brought to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 a s obedient children, not fashioning yourselves to the former desires in your ignorance,

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

15 b ut according as He who did call you holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour,

but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

16 b ecause it hath been written, `Become ye holy, because I am holy;'

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

17 a nd if on the Father ye do call, who without acceptance of persons is judging according to the work of each, in fear the time of your sojourn pass ye,

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 stay on earth;

18 h aving known that, not with corruptible things -- silver or gold -- were ye redeemed from your foolish behaviour delivered by fathers,

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

19 b ut with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and unspotted -- Christ's --

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20 f oreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, and manifested in the last times because of you,

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

21 w ho through him do believe in God, who did raise out of the dead, and glory to him did give, so that your faith and hope may be in God.

who 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.

22 Y our souls having purified in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to brotherly love unfeigned, out of a pure heart one another love ye earnestly,

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

23 b eing begotten again, not out of seed corruptible, but incorruptible, through a word of God -- living and remaining -- to the age;

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

24 b ecause all flesh as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away,

For, “ All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,

25 a nd the saying of the Lord doth remain -- to the age; and this is the saying that was proclaimed good news to you.

But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.