TheFirstEpistleof Peter
CHAPTER1
1Peter,anapostleofJesusChrist,tothestrangersscattered throughoutPontus,Galatia,Cappadocia,Asia,and Bithynia,
2ElectaccordingtotheforeknowledgeofGodtheFather, throughsanctificationoftheSpirit,untoobedienceand sprinklingofthebloodofJesusChrist:Graceuntoyou, andpeace,bemultiplied
3BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist, whichaccordingtohisabundantmercyhathbegottenus againuntoalivelyhopebytheresurrectionofJesusChrist fromthedead,
4Toaninheritanceincorruptible,andundefiled,andthat fadethnotaway,reservedinheavenforyou,
5WhoarekeptbythepowerofGodthroughfaithunto salvationreadytoberevealedinthelasttime.
6Whereinyegreatlyrejoice,thoughnowforaseason,if needbe,yeareinheavinessthroughmanifoldtemptations:
7Thatthetrialofyourfaith,beingmuchmoreprecious thanofgoldthatperisheth,thoughitbetriedwithfire, mightbefounduntopraiseandhonourandgloryatthe appearingofJesusChrist:
8Whomhavingnotseen,yelove;inwhom,thoughnow yeseehimnot,yetbelieving,yerejoicewithjoy unspeakableandfullofglory:
9Receivingtheendofyourfaith,eventhesalvationof yoursouls
10Ofwhichsalvationtheprophetshaveenquiredand searcheddiligently,whoprophesiedofthegracethat shouldcomeuntoyou:
11Searchingwhat,orwhatmanneroftimetheSpiritof Christwhichwasinthemdidsignify,whenittestified beforehandthesufferingsofChrist,andtheglorythat shouldfollow.
12Untowhomitwasrevealed,thatnotuntothemselves, butuntoustheydidministerthethings,whicharenow reporteduntoyoubythemthathavepreachedthegospel untoyouwiththeHolyGhostsentdownfromheaven; whichthingstheangelsdesiretolookinto
13Whereforegirduptheloinsofyourmind,besober,and hopetotheendforthegracethatistobebroughtuntoyou attherevelationofJesusChrist;
14Asobedientchildren,notfashioningyourselves accordingtotheformerlustsinyourignorance:
15Butashewhichhathcalledyouisholy,sobeyeholyin allmannerofconversation;
16Becauseitiswritten,Beyeholy;forIamholy
17AndifyecallontheFather,whowithoutrespectof personsjudgethaccordingtoeveryman'swork,passthe timeofyoursojourninghereinfear:
18Forasmuchasyeknowthatyewerenotredeemedwith corruptiblethings,assilverandgold,fromyourvain conversationreceivedbytraditionfromyourfathers;
19ButwiththepreciousbloodofChrist,asofalamb withoutblemishandwithoutspot:
20Whoverilywasforeordainedbeforethefoundationof theworld,butwasmanifestintheselasttimesforyou, 21WhobyhimdobelieveinGod,thatraisedhimupfrom thedead,andgavehimglory;thatyourfaithandhope mightbeinGod
22Seeingyehavepurifiedyoursoulsinobeyingthetruth throughtheSpirituntounfeignedloveofthebrethren,see thatyeloveoneanotherwithapureheartfervently:
23Beingbornagain,notofcorruptibleseed,butof incorruptible,bythewordofGod,whichlivethandabideth forever
24Forallfleshisasgrass,andallthegloryofmanasthe flowerofgrassThegrasswithereth,andtheflowerthereof fallethaway:
25ButthewordoftheLordendurethforever.Andthisis thewordwhichbythegospelispreacheduntoyou
CHAPTER2
1Whereforelayingasideallmalice,andallguile,and hypocrisies,andenvies,andallevilspeakings, 2Asnewbornbabes,desirethesinceremilkoftheword, thatyemaygrowthereby:
3IfsobeyehavetastedthattheLordisgracious.
4Towhomcoming,asuntoalivingstone,disallowed indeedofmen,butchosenofGod,andprecious, 5Yealso,aslivelystones,arebuiltupaspiritualhouse,an holypriesthood,toofferupspiritualsacrifices,acceptable toGodbyJesusChrist
6Whereforealsoitiscontainedinthescripture,Behold,I layinSionachiefcornerstone,elect,precious:andhethat believethonhimshallnotbeconfounded.
7Untoyouthereforewhichbelieveheisprecious:butunto themwhichbedisobedient,thestonewhichthebuilders disallowed,thesameismadetheheadofthecorner,
8Andastoneofstumbling,andarockofoffence,evento themwhichstumbleattheword,beingdisobedient: whereuntoalsotheywereappointed.
9Butyeareachosengeneration,aroyalpriesthood,an holynation,apeculiarpeople;thatyeshouldshewforth thepraisesofhimwhohathcalledyououtofdarknessinto hismarvellouslight:
10Whichintimepastwerenotapeople,butarenowthe peopleofGod:whichhadnotobtainedmercy,butnow haveobtainedmercy
11Dearlybeloved,Ibeseechyouasstrangersandpilgrims, abstainfromfleshlylusts,whichwaragainstthesoul;
12HavingyourconversationhonestamongtheGentiles: that,whereastheyspeakagainstyouasevildoers,theymay byyourgoodworks,whichtheyshallbehold,glorifyGod inthedayofvisitation
13Submityourselvestoeveryordinanceofmanforthe Lord'ssake:whetheritbetotheking,assupreme;
14Oruntogovernors,asuntothemthataresentbyhimfor thepunishmentofevildoers,andforthepraiseofthemthat dowell.
15ForsoisthewillofGod,thatwithwelldoingyemay puttosilencetheignoranceoffoolishmen:
16Asfree,andnotusingyourlibertyforaclokeof maliciousness,butastheservantsofGod
17HonourallmenLovethebrotherhoodFearGod Honourtheking.
18Servants,besubjecttoyourmasterswithallfear;not onlytothegoodandgentle,butalsotothefroward.
19Forthisisthankworthy,ifamanforconsciencetoward Godenduregrief,sufferingwrongfully.
20Forwhatgloryisit,if,whenyebebuffetedforyour faults,yeshalltakeitpatiently?butif,whenyedowell, andsufferforit,yetakeitpatiently,thisisacceptablewith God.
21Forevenhereuntowereyecalled:becauseChristalso sufferedforus,leavingusanexample,thatyeshould followhissteps:
22Whodidnosin,neitherwasguilefoundinhismouth:
23Who,whenhewasreviled,revilednotagain;whenhe suffered,hethreatenednot;butcommittedhimselftohim thatjudgethrighteously:
24Whohisownselfbareoursinsinhisownbodyonthe tree,thatwe,beingdeadtosins,shouldliveunto righteousness:bywhosestripesyewerehealed
25Foryewereassheepgoingastray;butarenowreturned untotheShepherdandBishopofyoursouls
CHAPTER3
1Likewise,yewives,beinsubjectiontoyourown husbands;that,ifanyobeynottheword,theyalsomay withoutthewordbewonbytheconversationofthewives; 2Whiletheybeholdyourchasteconversationcoupledwith fear.
3Whoseadorningletitnotbethatoutwardadorningof plaitingthehair,andofwearingofgold,orofputtingonof apparel;
4Butletitbethehiddenmanoftheheart,inthatwhichis notcorruptible,eventheornamentofameekandquiet spirit,whichisinthesightofGodofgreatprice.
5Forafterthismannerintheoldtimetheholywomenalso, whotrustedinGod,adornedthemselves,beingin subjectionuntotheirownhusbands:
6EvenasSaraobeyedAbraham,callinghimlord:whose daughtersyeare,aslongasyedowell,andarenotafraid withanyamazement.
7Likewise,yehusbands,dwellwiththemaccordingto knowledge,givinghonouruntothewife,asuntothe weakervessel,andasbeingheirstogetherofthegraceof life;thatyourprayersbenothindered
8Finally,beyeallofonemind,havingcompassiononeof another,loveasbrethren,bepitiful,becourteous:
9Notrenderingevilforevil,orrailingforrailing:but contrariwiseblessing;knowingthatyearethereuntocalled, thatyeshouldinheritablessing
10Forhethatwilllovelife,andseegooddays,lethim refrainhistonguefromevil,andhislipsthattheyspeakno guile:
11Lethimeschewevil,anddogood;lethimseekpeace, andensueit
12FortheeyesoftheLordareovertherighteous,andhis earsareopenuntotheirprayers:butthefaceoftheLordis againstthemthatdoevil.
13Andwhoishethatwillharmyou,ifyebefollowersof thatwhichisgood?
14Butandifyesufferforrighteousness'sake,happyare ye:andbenotafraidoftheirterror,neitherbetroubled;
15ButsanctifytheLordGodinyourhearts:andbeready alwaystogiveananswertoeverymanthataskethyoua reasonofthehopethatisinyouwithmeeknessandfear:
16Havingagoodconscience;that,whereastheyspeakevil ofyou,asofevildoers,theymaybeashamedthatfalsely accuseyourgoodconversationinChrist
17Foritisbetter,ifthewillofGodbeso,thatyesufferfor welldoing,thanforevildoing.
18ForChristalsohathoncesufferedforsins,thejustfor theunjust,thathemightbringustoGod,beingputtodeath intheflesh,butquickenedbytheSpirit:
19Bywhichalsohewentandpreacheduntothespiritsin prison;
20Whichsometimeweredisobedient,whenoncethe longsufferingofGodwaitedinthedaysofNoah,whilethe arkwasapreparing,whereinfew,thatis,eightsoulswere savedbywater
21Thelikefigurewhereuntoevenbaptismdothalsonow saveus(nottheputtingawayofthefilthoftheflesh,but theanswerofagoodconsciencetowardGod,)bythe resurrectionofJesusChrist:
22Whoisgoneintoheaven,andisontherighthandof God;angelsandauthoritiesandpowersbeingmadesubject untohim
CHAPTER4
1ForasmuchthenasChristhathsufferedforusintheflesh, armyourselveslikewisewiththesamemind:forhethat hathsufferedinthefleshhathceasedfromsin;
2Thathenolongershouldlivetherestofhistimeinthe fleshtothelustsofmen,buttothewillofGod
3Forthetimepastofourlifemaysufficeustohave wroughtthewilloftheGentiles,whenwewalkedin lasciviousness,lusts,excessofwine,revellings, banquetings,andabominableidolatries:
4Whereintheythinkitstrangethatyerunnotwiththemto thesameexcessofriot,speakingevilofyou:
5Whoshallgiveaccounttohimthatisreadytojudgethe quickandthedead.
6Forforthiscausewasthegospelpreachedalsotothem thataredead,thattheymightbejudgedaccordingtomen intheflesh,butliveaccordingtoGodinthespirit.
7Buttheendofallthingsisathand:beyethereforesober, andwatchuntoprayer
8Andaboveallthingshaveferventcharityamong yourselves:forcharityshallcoverthemultitudeofsins
9Usehospitalityonetoanotherwithoutgrudging.
10Aseverymanhathreceivedthegift,evensominister thesameonetoanother,asgoodstewardsofthemanifold graceofGod
11Ifanymanspeak,lethimspeakastheoraclesofGod;if anymanminister,lethimdoitasoftheabilitywhichGod giveth:thatGodinallthingsmaybeglorifiedthrough JesusChrist,towhombepraiseanddominionforeverand everAmen
12Beloved,thinkitnotstrangeconcerningthefierytrial whichistotryyou,asthoughsomestrangethinghappened untoyou:
13Butrejoice,inasmuchasyearepartakersofChrist's sufferings;that,whenhisgloryshallberevealed,yemay begladalsowithexceedingjoy
14IfyebereproachedforthenameofChrist,happyareye; forthespiritofgloryandofGodrestethuponyou:ontheir partheisevilspokenof,butonyourpartheisglorified 15Butletnoneofyousufferasamurderer,orasathief,or asanevildoer,orasabusybodyinothermen'smatters.
16YetifanymansufferasaChristian,lethimnotbe ashamed;butlethimglorifyGodonthisbehalf
17Forthetimeiscomethatjudgmentmustbeginatthe houseofGod:andifitfirstbeginatus,whatshalltheend beofthemthatobeynotthegospelofGod?
18Andiftherighteousscarcelybesaved,whereshallthe ungodlyandthesinnerappear?
19Whereforeletthemthatsufferaccordingtothewillof Godcommitthekeepingoftheirsoulstohiminwelldoing, asuntoafaithfulCreator
CHAPTER5
1TheelderswhichareamongyouIexhort,whoamalso anelder,andawitnessofthesufferingsofChrist,andalso apartakeroftheglorythatshallberevealed:
2FeedtheflockofGodwhichisamongyou,takingthe oversightthereof,notbyconstraint,butwillingly;notfor filthylucre,butofareadymind;
3NeitherasbeinglordsoverGod'sheritage,butbeing ensamplestotheflock
4AndwhenthechiefShepherdshallappear,yeshall receiveacrownofglorythatfadethnotaway.
5Likewise,yeyounger,submityourselvesuntotheelder Yea,allofyoubesubjectonetoanother,andbeclothed withhumility:forGodresisteththeproud,andgivethgrace tothehumble
6Humbleyourselvesthereforeunderthemightyhandof God,thathemayexaltyouinduetime:
7Castingallyourcareuponhim;forhecarethforyou
8Besober,bevigilant;becauseyouradversarythedevil, asaroaringlion,walkethabout,seekingwhomhemay devour:
9Whomresiststedfastinthefaith,knowingthatthesame afflictionsareaccomplishedinyourbrethrenthatareinthe world
10ButtheGodofallgrace,whohathcalledusuntohis eternalglorybyChristJesus,afterthatyehavesuffereda while,makeyouperfect,stablish,strengthen,settleyou
11TohimbegloryanddominionforeverandeverAmen
12BySilvanus,afaithfulbrotheruntoyou,asIsuppose,I havewrittenbriefly,exhorting,andtestifyingthatthisis thetruegraceofGodwhereinyestand.
13ThechurchthatisatBabylon,electedtogetherwithyou, salutethyou;andsodothMarcusmyson
14GreetyeoneanotherwithakissofcharityPeacebe withyouallthatareinChristJesus.Amen.