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^(C1)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as ^(C2)strangers, ^(C3)scattered throughout ^(C4)Pontus, ^(C5)Galatia, ^(C4)Cappadocia, ^(C4)Asia, and ^(C6)Bithynia, ^(C7)who are chosen

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according to the ^(C1)foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(C2)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ^(F1)to ^(C3)obey Jesus Christ and be ^(C4)sprinkled with His blood: ^(C5)May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

^(C1)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(C2)according to His great mercy ^(C3)has caused us to be born again to ^(C4)a living hope through the ^(C5)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to obtain an ^(C1)inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and ^(C2)will not fade away, ^(C3)reserved in heaven for you,

who are ^(C1)protected by the power of God ^(C2)through faith for ^(C3)a salvation ready ^(C4)to be revealed in the last time.

^(C1)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(C2)for a little while, ^(C3)if necessary, you have been distressed by ^(C4)various ^(F1)trials,

so that the ^(F1)(C1)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes ^(C2)though tested by fire, ^(C3)may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at ^(C4)the revelation of Jesus Christ;

and ^(C1)though you have not seen Him, you ^(C2)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^(F1)full of glory,

obtaining as ^(C1)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of ^(F1)your souls.

^(C1)As to this salvation, the prophets who ^(C2)prophesied of the ^(C3)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

^(F1)seeking to know what person or time ^(C1)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^(C2)predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories ^(F2)to follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who ^(C1)preached the gospel to you by ^(C2)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^(C3)angels long to ^(F1)look.

Therefore, ^(F1)(C1)prepare your minds for action, ^(F2)(C2)keep sober in spirit, set your ^(C3)hope completely on the ^(C4)grace to be brought to you at ^(C5)the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As ^(F1)(C1)obedient children, do not ^(F2)(C2)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(C3)ignorance,

but ^(F1)(C1)like the Holy One who called you, ^(F2)(C2)be holy yourselves also ^(C3)in all your behavior;

because it is written: "^(C1)YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

If you ^(C1)address as Father the One who ^(C2)impartially ^(C3)judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves ^(C4)in fear during the time of your ^(C5)stay on earth;

knowing that you were not ^(F1)(C1)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(C2)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious ^(C1)blood, as of a ^(C2)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was ^(C1)foreknown before ^(C2)the foundation of the world, but has ^(C3)appeared ^(F1)in these last times ^(C4)for the sake of you

who through Him are ^(C1)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(C2)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(C3)hope are in God.

Since you have ^(C1)purified your souls ^(C2)in obedience to the truth for a ^(C3)sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from ^(F1)the heart,

for you have been ^(C1)born again ^(C2)not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^(C3)word of God.

For, "^(C1)ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

^(C1)BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is ^(C2)the word which was ^(F1)preached to you.

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Therefore, ^(C1)rid yourselves of all ^(F1)malice and all deceit and ^(F2)hypocrisy and ^(F2)envy and all ^(F2)(C2)slander,

^(C1)and like newborn babies, long for the ^(F1)(C2)pure ^(F2)milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(C3)grow ^(F3)in respect to salvation,

if you have ^(C1)tasted ^(F1)(C2)the kindness of the Lord.

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(C1)rejected by people, but is ^(F1)choice and precious in the sight of God,

^(C1)you also, as living stones, ^(F1)are being built up as a ^(C2)spiritual house for a holy ^(C3)priesthood, to ^(C4)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For this is contained in ^(F1)Scripture: "^(C1)BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A ^(C2)PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN ^(F2)HIM WILL NOT BE ^(F3)PUT TO SHAME."

^(C1)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, "^(C2)A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS ^(C3)REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE ^(F1)CHIEF CORNERSTONE,"

and, "^(C1)A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; ^(C2)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^(C3)and to this they were also appointed.

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But you are ^(C1)A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal ^(C2)PRIESTHOOD, A ^(C3)HOLY NATION, ^(C4)A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(C5)out of darkness into His marvelous light;

^(C1)for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

^(C1)Beloved, ^(C2)I urge you as ^(C3)foreigners and strangers to abstain from ^(C4)fleshly lusts, which wage ^(C5)war against the soul.

^(C1)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(C2)slander you as evildoers, they may ^(F1)because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(C3)glorify God ^(C4)on the day of ^(F2)visitation.

^(C1)Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

or to governors as sent ^(F1)by him ^(C1)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(C2)praise of those who do right.

For ^(F1)(C1)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(C2)silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Act as ^(C1)free people, and ^(F1)do not use your freedom as a ^(F2)covering for evil, but use it as ^(C2)bond-servants of God.

^(C1)Honor all people, ^(C2)love the brotherhood, ^(C3)fear God, ^(C4)honor the ^(F1)king.

^(C1)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(C2)gentle, but also to those who are ^(F1)harsh.

For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(C1)conscience toward God a person endures ^(F1)grief when suffering unjustly.

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(C1)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

For ^(C1)you have been called for this purpose, ^(C2)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(C3)an example, so that you would follow in His steps,

HE WHO ^(C1)COMMITTED NO sin, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT found IN HIS MOUTH;

^(F1)and while being ^(C1)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

and He Himself ^(F1)(C1)brought our sins in His body up on the ^(F2)(C2)cross, so that we ^(C3)might die to ^(F3)sin and live for righteousness; ^(C4)by His ^(F4)wounds you were ^(C5)healed.

For you were ^(C1)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(C2)Shepherd and ^(F1)Guardian of your souls.

^(C1)In the same way, you wives, ^(C2)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(C3)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,

as they observe your pure ^(F1)and respectful behavior.

^(C1)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel;

but it should be ^(C1)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

For in this way the holy women of former times, ^(C1)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(C1)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^(F1)(C2)without being frightened by any fear.

^(C1)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^(F1)(C2)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^(F1)To sum up, ^(C1)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^(F2)(C2)loving, ^(C3)compassionate, and ^(C4)humble;

^(C1)not returning evil for evil or ^(C2)insult for insult, but giving a ^(C3)blessing instead; for ^(C4)you were called for the very purpose that you would ^(C5)inherit a blessing.

For, "^(C1)THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

-"^(C1)HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

-"^(C1)FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST EVILDOERS."