1 Peter 1:2-23

New International Version

² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge^(A) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,^(B) to be obedient^(C) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:^(D)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.^(E)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(F) In his great mercy^(G) he has given us new birth^(H) into a living hope^(I) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^{(J) 4} and into an inheritance^(K) that can never perish, spoil or fade.^(L) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,^{(M) 5} who through faith are shielded by God’s power^(N) until the coming of the salvation^(O) that is ready to be revealed^(P) in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice,^(Q) though now for a little while^(R) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.^{(S) 7} These have come so that the proven genuineness^(T) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(U)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(V) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^{(W) 8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him^(X) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.^(Y)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(Z) of the grace that was to come to you,^(AA) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(AB) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(AC) in them was pointing when he predicted^(AD) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,^(AE) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(AF) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(AG) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,^(AH) set your hope^(AI) on the grace to be brought to you^(AJ) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.^{(AK) 14} As obedient^(AL) children, do not conform^(AM) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.^{(AN) 15} But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(AO) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](AP)

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(AQ) who judges each person’s work^(AR) impartially,^(AS) live out your time as foreigners^(AT) here in reverent fear.^{(AU) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(AV) from the empty way of life^(AW) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(AX) of Christ, a lamb^(AY) without blemish or defect.^{(AZ) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(BA) but was revealed in these last times^(BB) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(BC) who raised him from the dead^(BD) and glorified him,^(BE) and so your faith and hope^(BF) are in God.

²² Now that you have purified^(BG) yourselves by obeying^(BH) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,^(BI) from the heart.^{[b] 23} For you have been born again,^(BJ) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,^(BK) through the living and enduring word of God.^(BL)