^aPeter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,

To those elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers who live as ^bexiles, ^cscattered throughout ^dPontus, ^eGalatia, ^fCappadocia, ^gAsia Minor, and ^hBithynia, ⁱwho are chosen Heb 13:14 2 according to the ^aforeknowledge of God the Father by the ^bsanctifying work of the Spirit to ^cbe obedient to Jesus Christ and to be ^dsprinkled with His blood: ^eMay grace and peace that special sense of spiritual well-being be yours in increasing abundance as you walk closely with God. John 14:27

3 ^aBlessed gratefully praised and adored be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^baccording to His abundant and boundless mercy has ^ccaused us to be born again that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose to ^dan ever-living hope and confident assurance through the ^eresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Matt 28:1-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6; John 20:1-18 4 born anew into an ^ainheritance which is imperishable beyond the reach of change and undefiled and ^bunfading, ^creserved in heaven for you, 5 who are being ^aprotected and shielded by the power of God ^bthrough your faith for ^csalvation that is ready ^dto be revealed for you in the last time. 6 ^aIn this you rejoice greatly, even though now ^bfor a little while, ^cif necessary, you have been distressed by ^dvarious trials, 7 so that the ^agenuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, ^beven though tested and purified by fire, ^cmay be found to result in your praise and glory and honor at ^dthe revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 ^aThough you have not seen Him, you ^blove Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 receiving as ^athe result the outcome, the consummation of your faith, the salvation of ¹your souls.

10 ^aRegarding this salvation, the prophets who ^bprophesied about the ^cgrace of God that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired about this future way of salvation, 11 seeking to find out what person or what time ^athe Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^bforetold the sufferings of Christ and the glories destined to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that their services their prophecies regarding grace were not meant for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ which have now been told to you by those who ^apreached the gospel to you by ^bthe power of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven. Into these things even the ^cangels long to look.

13 So ^aprepare your minds for action, ^bbe completely sober in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert, fix your ^chope completely on the ^dgrace of God that is coming to you ^ewhen Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Live as ^aobedient children of God; do not ^bbe conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ^cignorance before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation. 15 But ^alike the Holy One who called you, ^bbe holy yourselves ^cin all your conduct be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage; 16 because it is written, “^aYOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart) , FOR I AM HOLY.” Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2

17 If you ^aaddress as Father, the One who ^bimpartially ^cjudges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^din reverent fear of Him and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your ^estay on earth. 18 For you know that you were not ^aredeemed from your ^buseless spiritually unproductive way of life inherited by tradition from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, 19 but you were actually purchased with precious ^ablood, like that of a sacrificial ^blamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. Lev 22:20 20 For He was ^1aforeordained (foreknown) before ^bthe foundation of the world, but has ^cappeared publicly in these last times ^dfor your sake 21 and through Him you ^abelieve confidently in God the heavenly Father, who raised Him from the dead and ^bgave Him glory, so that your faith and ^chope are centered and rest in God.

22 Since ^aby your obedience to the truth you have ^bpurified yourselves for a ^csincere love of the believers, see that you love one another from the heart always unselfishly seeking the best for one another, 23 for you have been ^aborn again that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose ^bnot of seed which is perishable but from that which is imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting ^cword of God. 24 For,“^aALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.THE GRASS WITHERSAND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

^aPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as ^baliens, ^cscattered throughout ^dPontus, ^eGalatia, ^fCappadocia, ^gAsia, and ^hBithynia, ⁱwho are chosen 2 according to the ^aforeknowledge of God the Father, ^bby the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ¹to ^cobey Jesus Christ and be ^dsprinkled with His blood: ^eMay grace and peace ²be yours in the fullest measure.

3 ^aBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^baccording to His great mercy ^chas caused us to be born again to ^da living hope through the ^eresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an ^ainheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and ^bwill not fade away, ^creserved in heaven for you, 5 who are ^aprotected by the power of God ^bthrough faith for ^ca salvation ready ^dto be revealed in the last time. 6 ^aIn this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^bfor a little while, ^cif necessary, you have been distressed by ^dvarious ¹trials, 7 so that the ^1aproof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ²is perishable, ^beven though tested by fire, ^cmay be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^dthe revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and ^athough you have not seen Him, you ^blove Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ¹full of glory, 9 obtaining as ^athe outcome of your faith the salvation of ¹your souls.

10 ^aAs to this salvation, the prophets who ^bprophesied of the ^cgrace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 ¹seeking to know what person or time ^athe Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^bpredicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories ²to follow. 12 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 ^apreached the gospel to you by ^bthe Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^cangels long to ¹look.

13 Therefore, ^1aprepare your minds for action, ^2bkeep sober in spirit, fix your ^chope completely on the ^dgrace ³to be brought to you at ^ethe revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As ^1aobedient children, do not ^2bbe conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^cignorance, 15 but ^1alike the Holy One who called you, ^2bbe holy yourselves also ^cin all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “^aYOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

17 If you ^aaddress as Father the One who ^bimpartially ^cjudges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^din fear during the time of your ^estay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not ^1aredeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^bfutile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious ^ablood, as of a ^blamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was ^aforeknown before ^bthe foundation of the world, but has ^cappeared ¹in these last times ^dfor the sake of you 21 who through Him are ^abelievers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^bgave Him glory, so that your faith and ^chope are in God.

22 Since you have ^ain obedience to the truth ^bpurified your souls for a ^1csincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from ²the heart, 23 for you have been ^aborn again ^bnot of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^cword of God. 24 For,“^aALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.THE GRASS WITHERS,AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,