1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers

scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and

Bithynia,

1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,

through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and

sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and

peace, be multiplied.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the

dead,

1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that

fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto

salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need

be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

1:7 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

Jesus Christ:

1:8 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:

1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of

your souls.

1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched

diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto

you:

1:11 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.

1:12 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.

1:13 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 Jesus Christ;

1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according

to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in

all manner of conversation;

1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1:17 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:

1:18 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;

1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without

blemish and without spot:

1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the

world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1:21 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.

1:22 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:

1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for

ever.

1:24 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:

1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the

word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and

hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that

ye may grow thereby:

2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed

of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I

lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that

believeth on him shall not be confounded.

2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto

them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders

disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to

them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto

also they were appointed.

2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an

holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the

praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his

marvellous light:

2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the

people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have

obtained mercy.

2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,

whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your

good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of

visitation.

2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's

sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for

the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do

well.

2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put

to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of

maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour

the king.

2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not

only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward

God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your

faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable

with God.

2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow

his steps:

2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he

suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,

that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by

whose stripes ye were healed.

2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;

that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word

be won by the conversation of the wives;

3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with

fear.

3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of

plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of

apparel;

3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which

is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet

spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also,

who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection

unto their own husbands:

3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose

daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid

with any amazement.

3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to

knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker

vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that

your prayers be not hindered.

3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of

another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but

contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.

3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him

refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no

guile:

3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and

ensue it.

3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his

ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.

3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of

that which is good?

3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are

ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready

always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a

reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of

you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse

your good conversation in Christ.

3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye

suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for

the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death

in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in

prison;

3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the

longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark

was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved

by water.

3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save

us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the

answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of

Jesus Christ:

3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;

angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,

arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath

suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the

flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have

wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in

lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings,

and abominable idolatries:

4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to

the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the

quick and the dead.

4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that

are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the

flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober,

and watch unto prayer.

4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:

for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the

same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of

God.

4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if

any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God

giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus

Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial

which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto

you:

4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's

sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be

glad also with exceeding joy.

4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;

for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their

part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief,

or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be

ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the

house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the

end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the

ungodly and the sinner appear?

4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God

commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as

unto a faithful Creator.

5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an

elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a

partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the

oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for

filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being

ensamples to the flock.

5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a

crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea,

all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with

humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the

humble.

5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as

a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same

afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the

world.

5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his

eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a

while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I

have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is

the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with

you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be

with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.