Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(A) In his great mercy^(B) he has given us new birth^(C) into a living hope^(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^{(E) 4} and into an inheritance^(F) that can never perish, spoil or fade.^(G) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,^{(H) 5} who through faith are shielded by God’s power^(I) until the coming of the salvation^(J) that is ready to be revealed^(K) in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice,^(L) though now for a little while^(M) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.^{(N) 7} These have come so that the proven genuineness^(O) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(P)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(Q) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^{(R) 8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him^(S) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.^(T)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(U) of the grace that was to come to you,^(V) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(W) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(X) in them was pointing when he predicted^(Y) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,^(Z) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(AA) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(AB) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,^(AC) set your hope^(AD) on the grace to be brought to you^(AE) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.^{(AF) 14} As obedient^(AG) children, do not conform^(AH) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.^{(AI) 15} But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(AJ) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](AK)

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(AL) who judges each person’s work^(AM) impartially,^(AN) live out your time as foreigners^(AO) here in reverent fear.^{(AP) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(AQ) from the empty way of life^(AR) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(AS) of Christ, a lamb^(AT) without blemish or defect.^{(AU) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(AV) but was revealed in these last times^(AW) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(AX) who raised him from the dead^(AY) and glorified him,^(AZ) and so your faith and hope^(BA) are in God.

²² Now that you have purified^(BB) yourselves by obeying^(BC) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,^(BD) from the heart.^{[b] 23} For you have been born again,^(BE) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,^(BF) through the living and enduring word of God.^{(BG) 24} For,

And this is the word that was preached to you.

2 Therefore, rid yourselves^(BI) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander^(BJ) of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(BK) so that by it you may grow up^(BL) in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.^(BM)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone^(BN)—rejected by humans but chosen by God^(BO) and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built^(BP) into a spiritual house^[d](BQ) to be a holy priesthood,^(BR) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(BS) 6} For in Scripture it says:

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(BV)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(BZ)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(CA) a royal priesthood,^(CB) a holy nation,^(CC) God’s special possession,^(CD) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{(CE) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^(CF) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.