1 Peter, ⓖ an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles ⓗ dispersed ⓘ abroad [1] in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ⓙ chosen ⓚ
2 according to the foreknowledge ⓛ of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ⓜ to be obedient ⓝ and to be sprinkled with the blood ⓐ of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⓑ Because of his great mercy ⓒ he has given us new birth ⓓ into a living hope ⓔ through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ⓕ
4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, ⓖ undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven ⓗ for you.
5 You are being guarded by God’s power ⓘ through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⓙ
6 You rejoice in this, [2] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials ⓚ
7 so that the proven character of your faith ⓛ — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire ⓜ — may result ⓝ in praise, glory, and honor ⓐ at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⓑ
8 Though you have not seen ⓒ him, you love him; ⓓ though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice ⓔ with inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, ⓕ who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated.
11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ ⓖ within them was indicating when he testified in advance ⓗ to the sufferings of Christ ⓘ and the glories ⓙ that would follow. [3]
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you ⓚ by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven ⓛ — angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, ⓜ be sober-minded ⓝ and set your hope ⓐ completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation ⓑ of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, ⓒ do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.
15 But as the one who called you ⓓ is holy, ⓔ you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. [4] ⓕ
17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially ⓖ according to each one’s work, ⓗ you are to conduct yourselves in reverence ⓘ during your time living as strangers.
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life ⓙ inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ⓚ
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, ⓛ like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. ⓜ
20 He was foreknown ⓝ before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times ⓐ for you.
21 Through him you believe in God, ⓑ who raised him from the dead ⓒ and gave him glory, ⓓ so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, [5] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, ⓔ from a pure [6] heart love one another constantly, [7] ⓕ
23 because you have been born again ⓖ — not of perishable seed ⓗ but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God. ⓘ
24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory ⓙ like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. [8] ⓚ And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.