God’s People Cleansed

13 “On that day a fountain^(A) will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.^{(B) 2} On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will remove the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered.^(C) I will banish the prophets^[a] and the unclean spirit from the land. ³ If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You cannot remain alive because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord.’ When he prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will pierce him through.^{(D) 4} On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not put on a hairy cloak^(E) in order to deceive. ⁵ He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased^[b] me as a servant since my youth.’^{(F) 6} If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds^(G) on your chest?’^[c]—then he will answer, ‘I received the wounds in the house of my friends.’

A Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(A) Because of his great mercy^(B) he has given us new birth^(C) into a living hope^(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead^{(E) 4} and into an inheritance that is imperishable,^(F) undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven^(G) for you. ⁵ You are being guarded by God’s power^(H) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.^{(I) 6} You rejoice in this,^[a] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials^{(J) 7} so that the proven character of your faith^(K)—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire^(L)—may result^(M) in praise, glory, and honor^(N) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.^{(O) 8} Though you have not seen^(P) him, you love him;^(Q) though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice^(R) with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore, with your minds ready for action,^(A) be sober-minded^(B) and set your hope^(C) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation^(D) of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children,^(E) do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. ¹⁵ But as the one who called you^(F) is holy,^(G) you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.^{[a](H) 17} If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially^(I) according to each one’s work,^(J) you are to conduct yourselves in reverence^(K) during your time living as strangers. ¹⁸ For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life^(L) inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,^{(M) 19} but with the precious blood of Christ,^(N) like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.^{(O) 20} He was foreknown^(P) before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times^(Q) for you. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(R) who raised him from the dead^(S) and gave him glory,^(T) so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,^[b] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other,^(U) from a pure^[c] heart love one another constantly,^{[d](V) 23} because you have been born again^(W)—not of perishable seed^(X) but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.^{(Y) 24} For

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.