1 Peter

Thomson^{(i) 1} Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² whom God the Father, according to his predetermination hath chosen, that by a sanctification of spirit they may obey, and be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ; favour be to you, and may peace be multiplied. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath regenerated us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ⁴ for an inheritance incorruptible, incapable of defilement or decay, reserved in heaven for us ⁵ who are, during belief, kept safely by the power of God, for a deliverance prepared to be revealed in the last time; ⁶ in whom you exult with joy though you are now for a little while, if it be necessary, distressed with divers trials; ⁷ in order that your faith, which hath stood the test and is much more precious than gold which is of a perishable nature though tried by fire, may be found praise worthy, and honourable, and glorious, at the manifestation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom without knowing him personally you love; in whom though you do not now see him, yet you believe, and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorified joy, ⁹ receiving as the completion of your faith the salvation of your souls: ¹⁰ about which salvation the prophets, who prophesied concerning this favour for you, made diligent inquiry ¹¹ and search, trying to find to what time, and what manner of time, the spirit of Christ within them pointed, when it testified before hand the sufferings which were for Christ, and the glories which should succeed them: ¹² to whom it was revealed that it was not for themselves, but for us, that they dispensed those things which have now been announced to you by them who proclaimed to you the glad tidings with a holy spirit sent from heaven; into which things angels have an earnest desire to look narrowly. ¹³ Wherefore having girded up the loins of your understanding, being perfectly sober, keep your hope fixed on the favour to be conferred on you at the manifestation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves in conformity to your former desires during your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as he who hath called you is holy, be ye also holy in the whole course of your life; ¹⁶ for it is written, "Be ye holy, because I am holy." ¹⁷ And since you invoke, as father, him who without respect of persons judgeth every one according to his work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that from that vain course of life, handed down to you from your fathers, you have been redeemed not with perishable things such as silver and gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, ²⁰ fore-ordained indeed before the foundation of the world, and manifested in these last times, for the sake of you ²¹ who by him believe in God, who hath raised him from the dead, and hath given him glory, so that you may have faith and hope in God. ²² Having, in obedience to the truth, purified your souls by the spirit for an unfeigned brotherly affection, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ as you have been born again not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God, which liveth and endureth forever. ²⁴ Because "all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as a flower of grass. the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth, ²⁵ but the decree of the Lord endureth forever", and this is the decree which hath been proclaimed as glad tidings for you;