1Pe 1 | ESV | STEP | Peter , an apostle of Jesus Christ , To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia , and Bithynia ,

To those who are elect exiles of ^athe Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to ^bthe foreknowledge of God the Father, ^cin the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and ^dfor sprinkling with his blood:

May ^egrace and ^fpeace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 ^gBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ^hAccording to his great mercy, ⁱhe has caused us to be born again to a living hope ^jthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to ^kan inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and ^lunfading, ^mkept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded ⁿthrough faith for a salvation ^oready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by ^pvarious trials, 7 so that ^qthe tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes ^rthough it is tested by ^sfire—may be found to result in ^tpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 ^uThough you have not seen him, you love him. ^vThough you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining ^wthe outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, ^xthe prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring ^ywhat person or time ^zthe Spirit of Christ in them was indicating ^aawhen he predicted ^abthe sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 ^acIt was revealed to them that ^adthey were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you ^aeby the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, ^afthings into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, ^agpreparing your minds for action, ^{▼▼Greek girding up the loins of your mind} and ^aibeing sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, ^ajdo not be conformed to the passions ^akof your former ignorance, 15 but ^alas he who called you is holy, you also be holy ^amin all your conduct, 16 since it is written, ^an“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you ^aocall on him as Father who ^apjudges ^aqimpartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves ^arwith fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you ^aswere ransomed from ^atthe futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but ^auwith the precious blood of Christ, like that of ^ava lamb ^awwithout blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but ^axwas made manifest ^ayin the last times for the sake of you 21 ^azwho through him are believers in God, ^bawho raised him from the dead and ^bbgave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for ^bca sincere brotherly love, ^bdlove one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 ^besince you have been born again, ^bfnot of perishable seed but of imperishable, through ^bgthe living and abiding word of God; 24 for

^bh“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 ^bibut the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word ^bjis the good news that was preached to you.