1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To Gods elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
2 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.
3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
3 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,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
5 who through faith are shielded by Gods power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
7 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.
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
8 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,
9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
11 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.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
12 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.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
13 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.
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each mans work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;
18 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,
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
22 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.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
23 For 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] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.