- Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's 
      elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, 
      Asia and Bithynia,
- who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge 
      of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience 
      to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in 
      abundance.
- Praise be to the God and Father of our 
      Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living 
      hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- and into an inheritance that can never 
      perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you,
- who through faith are shielded by God's 
      power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in 
      the last time.
- In this you greatly rejoice, though now 
      for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
- These have come so that your faith--of 
      greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may 
      be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ 
      is revealed.
- Though you have not seen him, you love 
      him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are 
      filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- for you are receiving the goal of your 
      faith, the salvation of your souls.
- Concerning this salvation, the prophets, 
      who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with 
      the greatest care,
- trying to find out the time and circumstances 
      to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the 
      sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
- It was revealed to them that they were 
      not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have 
      now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy 
      Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
- Therefore, prepare your minds for action; 
      be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when 
      Jesus Christ is revealed.
- As obedient children, do not conform to 
      the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
- But just as he who called you is holy, 
      so be holy in all you do;
- for it is written: "Be holy, because 
      I am holy."
- Since you call on a Father who judges each 
      man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
- For you know that it was not with perishable 
      things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way 
      of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
- but with the precious blood of Christ, 
      a lamb without blemish or defect.
- He was chosen before the creation of the 
      world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
- Through him you believe in God, who raised 
      him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
- Now that you have purified yourselves by 
      obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love 
      one another deeply, from the heart.
- For you have been born again, not of perishable 
      seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- For, "All men are like grass, and 
      all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and 
      the flowers fall,
- but the word of the Lord stands forever." 
      And this is the word that was preached to you. 
 
 
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