2 according to the foreknowledge g of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit h for obedience i and for sprinkling with the blood j of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. k According to His great mercy, l He has given us a new birth m into a living hope n through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead o 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, p uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven q for you. 5 You are being protected by God’s power r through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. s 6 You rejoice in this, t though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials u 7 so that the genuineness of your faith v—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire w—may result x in y praise, glory, and honor z at the revelation of Jesus Christ. a 8 You love Him, b though you have not seen c Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice d with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your e faith, the salvation of your souls. f

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets g who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances h the Spirit of Christ i within them was indicating when He testified in advance j to the messianic sufferings k l and the glories m that would follow. n 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you o by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. p Angels desire to look into these things.

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, q r be serious s and set your hope t completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation u of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, v do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you w is holy, x you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. y z

17 And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially a based on each one’s work, b you are to conduct yourselves in fear c during the time of your temporary residence. 18 For you know that you were * redeemed from your empty way of life d inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, e 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, f like that of a lamb g without defect or blemish. 20 He was chosen h i before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times j for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, k who raised Him from the dead l and gave Him glory, m so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 By obedience to the truth, n having purified yourselves o for sincere love of the * brothers, love one another p earnestly q from a pure r heart, s 23 since you have been born again t—not of perishable seed u but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. v