Chapter 1 The trial

1 Peter (an apostle of Iesus Christ) to the strangers scattered throughout: 

Pontus, 

Galatia, 

Cappadocia, 

Asia, 

and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge1 (of God, the Father) through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.


3 Blessed be the God and Father (of our Lord) Iesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Iesus (Christ) from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved 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.


6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

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 Iesus Christ:

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:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.


10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied (of the grace) that should come unto you:

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.


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.


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 Iesus Christ);

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written: 

“Be ye holy; for I am holy”2.


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:

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;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ [as] of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation (of the world) but was manifest in these last times for you,

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.


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:

23 Being born again (not of corruptible seed) but of incorruptible by the Word (of God) which liveth and abideth for ever.


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:

25 But the word (of the Lord) endureth for ever3. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.




Chapter 2