¹⁵ For this reason ^(A)He is the ^(B)mediator of a ^(C)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(D)called may ^(E)receive the promise of ^(F)the eternal inheritance.

¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(A)heavenly one. Therefore ^(B)God is not ^[a]ashamed to be ^(C)called their God; for ^(D)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁴ For here ^(A)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(B)the city which is to come.

⁴ to obtain an ^(A)inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and ^(B)will not fade away, ^(C)reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are ^(D)protected by the power of God ^(E)through faith for ^(F)a salvation ready ^(G)to be revealed in the last time. ^6 (H)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(I)for a little while, ^(J)if necessary, you have been distressed by ^(K)various ^[a]trials, ⁷ so that the ^[b](L)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^[c]is perishable, ^(M)even though tested by fire, ^(N)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^(O)the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and ^(P)though you have not seen Him, you ^(Q)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^[d]full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as ^(R)the outcome of your faith the salvation of ^[e]your souls.

^10 (S)As to this salvation, the prophets who ^(T)prophesied of the ^(U)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, ^11 [f]seeking to know what person or time ^(V)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^(W)predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories ^[g]to follow. ¹² 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 ^(X)preached the gospel to you by ^(Y)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^(Z)angels long to ^[h]look.

¹³ Therefore, ^[i](AA)prepare your minds for action, ^[j](AB)keep sober in spirit, fix your ^(AC)hope completely on the ^(AD)grace ^[k]to be brought to you at ^(AE)the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As ^[l](AF)obedient children, do not ^[m](AG)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(AH)ignorance, ¹⁵ but ^[n](AI)like the Holy One who called you, ^[o](AJ)be holy yourselves also ^(AK)in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written, “^(AL)You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ If you ^(AM)address as Father the One who ^(AN)impartially ^(AO)judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^(AP)in fear during the time of your ^(AQ)stay on earth; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not ^[p](AR)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(AS)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious ^(AT)blood, as of a ^(AU)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was ^(AV)foreknown before ^(AW)the foundation of the world, but has ^(AX)appeared ^[q]in these last times ^(AY)for the sake of you ²¹ who through Him are ^(AZ)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(BA)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(BB)hope are in God.

²² Since you have ^(BC)in obedience to the truth ^(BD)purified your souls for a ^[r](BE)sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from ^[s]the heart, ²³ for you have been ^(BF)born again ^(BG)not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^(BH)word of God. ²⁴ For,

And this is ^(BK)the word which was ^[t]preached to you.