
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}From Peter, 
apostle of Jesus Christ, 
to the Jews who live 
outside their homeland, 
scattered in Pontus, 
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia 
and Bithynia,
{I}2_{/}to those whom God 
the Father has called, 
according to his plan, 
and made holy by the 
Spirit, to obey Jesus 
Christ and be purified by 
his blood: may grace and 
peace increase among you.
YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED{/}

{I}3_{/}Let us praise 
God, the Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, for 
his great mercy. In 
raising Jesus Christ from 
the dead he has given us 
new life and the hope of 
sharing life 
{I}4_{/}beyond death, sin 
and all fleeting things. 
This inheritance is kept 
in the heavens for you, 
{I}5_{/}since God's power 
shall keep you faithful 
until salvation is 
revealed in the last 
days.
{I}6_{/}There is cause 
for joy, then, even 
though you may, for a 
time, have to suffer many 
trials. {I}7_{/}Thus will 
your faith be tested, 
like gold in a furnace. 
Gold, however, passes 
away but faith, worth so 
much more, will bring you 
in the end praise, glory 
and honor when Jesus 
Christ appears.
{I}8_{/}You have not yet 
seen him and yet you love 
him; even without seeing 
him, you believe in him 
and experience a heavenly 
joy beyond all words, 
{I}9_{/}for you are 
reaching the goal of your 
faith: the salvation of 
your souls.
{I}10_{/}This was the 
salvation for which the 
prophets so eagerly 
looked when, in days 
past, they foretold the 
favor of God with regard 
to you. {I}11_{/}But they 
could only investigate 
when the Spirit of Christ 
present within them 
pointed out the time and 
the circumstances of this 
- the sufferings of 
Christ and the glories 
which would follow.
{I}12_{/}It was revealed 
to them that they were 
working not for 
themselves but for you. 
Thus, in these days, 
after the Holy Spirit has 
been sent from heaven, 
the Gospel's preachers 
have taught you these 
mysteries which even the 
angels long to see.
BE HOLY{/}

{I}13_{/}So, then, let 
your spirit be ready. Be 
alert, with confident 
trust in the grace you 
will receive when Jesus 
Christ appears. 
{I}14_{/}Like obedient 
children, do not return 
to your former life given 
over to ignorance and 
passions. 
{I}15_{/}Imitate the one 
who called you. As he is 
holy so you, too, be holy 
in all your conduct, 
{I}16_{/}since Scripture 
says: Be holy for I am 
holy.
{I}17_{/}You call upon a 
Father who makes no 
distinction between 
persons but judges 
according to each one's 
deeds; take seriously, 
then, these years which 
you spend in a strange 
land. {I}18_{/}Remember 
that you were freed from 
the useless way of life 
of your ancestors, not 
with gold and silver 
{I}19_{/}but with the 
precious blood of the 
Lamb without spot or 
blemish. {I}20_{/}God, 
who has known Christ 
before the world began, 
revealed him to you in 
the last days. 
{I}21_{/}Through him, you 
have faith in God who 
raised him from the dead 
and glorified him in 
order that you might put 
all your faith and hope 
in God.
{I}22_{/}In obeying the 
truth, you have gained 
interior purification 
from which comes sincere 
mutual love. Love one 
another, then, with all 
your heart, 
{I}23_{/}since you are 
born again, not from 
mortal beings, but with 
enduring life, through 
the Word of God who lives 
and remains forever. 
{I}24_{/}It is written: 
All flesh is grass and 
its glory like the 
flowers of the field. The 
grass withers and the 
flower falls, but the 
Word of the Lord endures 
forever. This Word is the 
Gospel which has been 
brought to you.
CHRIST IS THE 
CORNERSTONE{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}So, give up all 
evil and deceit, 
hypocrisy, envy and every 
kind of gossip. 
{I}2_{/}Like newborn 
children, seek eagerly 
for the pure milk of the 
Word which will help you 
grow and reach salvation. 
{I}3_{/}Did you not taste 
the goodness of the Lord? 
{I}4_{/}He is the living 
stone rejected by people 
but chosen by God and 
precious to him. 
{I}5_{/}On drawing close 
to him, you also became 
living stones built into 
a spiritual temple, a 
holy community of priests 
offering spiritual 
sacrifices which please 
God through Jesus Christ. 
{I}6_{/}Scripture says: 
See, I lay in Zion a 
chosen and precious 
cornerstone; whoever 
believes in him will not 
be disappointed.
{I}7_{/}This means honor 
for you who believed, but 
for unbelievers also the 
stone which the builders 
rejected has become the 
cornerstone {I}8_{/}and 
it is a stone to stumble 
over, a rock which lays 
people low. They stumble 
over it in rejecting the 
Word, but the plan of God 
is fulfilled in this.
{I}9_{/}You are a chosen 
race, a community of 
priest-kings, a 
consecrated nation, a 
people God has made his 
own to proclaim his 
wonders. For he called 
you from your darkness to 
his own wonderful light. 
{I}10_{/}At one stage you 
were no people, but now 
you are God's people, you 
had not received his 
mercy, but now you have 
been given mercy.
LIVE A BLAMELESS LIFE{/}

{I}11_{/}Beloved, while 
you are strangers and 
exiles, I urge you not to 
indulge in selfish 
passions which wage war 
on the soul. 
{I}12_{/}Live a blameless 
life among the pagans; so 
when they accuse you 
falsely of any wrong, 
they may see your good 
works and give glory to 
God on the day he comes 
to them.
{I}13_{/}For the Lord's 
sake, respect all human 
authority: the king as 
chief authority, 
{I}14_{/}the governors as 
sent by him to punish 
evildoers and to 
encourage those who do 
good. {I}15_{/}And God 
wants you to do good so 
that you may silence 
those fools who 
ignorantly criticize you. 
{I}16_{/}Behave as free 
people but do not speak 
of freedom as a license 
for vice; you are free 
men and God's servants. 
{I}17_{/}Reverence each 
person, love your 
brothers and sisters, 
fear God and show respect 
to the emperor.
{I}18_{/}Servants must 
respect their masters, 
not only those who are 
good and understanding 
but also those who are 
difficult. {I}19_{/}For 
there is merit in putting 
up with unprovoked 
suffering, for the sake 
of God. {I}20_{/}What 
merit would there be in 
taking a beating when you 
have done wrong? But if 
you endure punishment 
when you have done well, 
that is a grace before 
God.
{I}21_{/}This is your 
calling: remember Christ 
who suffered for you, 
leaving you an example so 
that you may follow in 
his way. {I}22_{/}He did 
no wrong and there was no 
deceit in his mouth. 
{I}23_{/}He did not 
return insult for insult 
and, when suffering, he 
did not curse but put 
himself in the hands of 
God who judges justly. 
{I}24_{/}He went to the 
cross burdened with our 
sins so that we might die 
to sin and live an 
upright life. For by his 
wounds you have been 
healed. {I}25_{/}You were 
like stray sheep, but you 
have come back to the 
Shepherd and Guardian of 
your souls.
DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND 
WIVES{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}In the same way, 
wives must be submissive 
to their husbands. If any 
of them resists the Word, 
they will be won over 
without words by the 
conduct of their wives. 
{I}2_{/}It will be enough 
for them to see your 
responsible and blameless 
conduct.
{I}3_{/}Do not be taken 
up with outward 
appearances: hairstyles, 
gold necklaces and 
clothes. {I}4_{/}There is 
something more permanent 
that shines from within a 
person: a gentle and 
peaceful disposition. 
This is really precious 
in God's eyes. 
{I}5_{/}This was the way 
the holy women of the 
past dressed. They put 
their trust in God and 
were obedient to their 
husbands, {I}6_{/}namely 
Sarah who had such 
respect for Abraham that 
she called him her lord. 
You are her children if 
you do what is right and 
are not afraid.
{I}7_{/}Husbands, in your 
turn, be sensible in your 
life together. Be 
considerate, realizing 
that the woman is of a 
more frail disposition 
and that you both share 
in the gift of life. If 
you do this, God will 
readily answer your 
prayers.
{I}8_{/}Finally, you 
should all be of one 
mind: share each other's 
troubles with mutual 
affection, be 
compassionate and humble. 
{I}9_{/}Do not repay evil 
for evil or answer one 
insult with another. Give 
a blessing, instead, 
since this is what you 
have been called to do, 
and so you will receive 
the blessing. 
{I}10_{/}For if you seek 
life and want to see 
happiness, keep your 
tongue from evil and your 
mouth from speaking 
deceit. {I}11_{/}Turn 
away from evil and do 
good; seek peace and 
pursue it. 
{I}12_{/}Because the 
Lord's eyes are turned to 
the just and his ears 
listen to their appeal. 
But the Lord frowns on 
evildoers.
DO NOT FEAR OR BE 
DISTURBED{/}

{I}13_{/}Who can harm you 
if you devote yourselves 
to doing good? 
{I}14_{/}If you suffer 
for the sake of 
righteousness, happy are 
you. Do not fear what 
they fear or be disturbed 
as they are, {I}15_{/}but 
bless the Lord Christ in 
your hearts. Always have 
an answer ready when you 
are called upon to 
account for your hope, 
but give it simply and 
with respect. 
{I}16_{/}Keep your 
conscience clear so that 
those who slander you may 
be put to shame by your 
upright, Christian 
living. {I}17_{/}Better 
to suffer for doing good, 
if it is God's will, than 
for doing wrong.
ENDURE SUFFERINGS AS 
CHRIST DID{/}

{I}18_{/}Remember how 
Christ died, once and for 
all, for our sins. He, 
the just one, died for 
the unjust in order to 
lead us to God. He died 
as humans do, but was 
raised to life by the 
Spirit, {I}19_{/}and it 
was then that he went to 
preach to the imprisoned 
spirits. {I}20_{/}They 
were the generation who 
did not believe when God, 
in his great patience, 
delayed punishing the 
world while Noah was 
building the ark in which 
a small group of eight 
persons escaped through 
water. {I}21{/} That was 
a type of the baptism 
which now saves you; this 
baptism is not a matter 
of physical cleansing but 
of asking God to 
reconcile us through the 
resurrection of Christ 
Jesus. {I}22{/} He has 
ascended to heaven and is 
at the right hand of God, 
having subjected the 
angels, Dominations and 
Powers.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Given that Christ 
suffered in his human 
life, arm yourselves with 
this certainty: the one 
who suffers in his body 
has broken with sin 
{I}2_{/}so as to spend 
the rest of his life 
following the will of God 
and not human passions.
{I}3_{/}You have given 
enough time, in the past, 
to living as the pagans 
do: a life of excess, 
evil passions, 
drunkenness, orgies and 
worship of idols. 
{I}4_{/}They now find it 
strange that you are no 
longer swept along with 
them in this ruinous 
flood, and they 
misinterpret it. 
{I}5_{/}But they will be 
accountable to the one 
who is ready to judge the 
living and the dead. 
{I}6_{/}The Gospel has 
been preached to many who 
are now dead. As humans 
they received a deadly 
sentence, but through the 
Spirit they shall live 
for God.
{I}7_{/}The end of all 
things is near; live 
wisely and spend evening 
time praying. 
{I}8_{/}Above all, let 
your love for one another 
be sincere, for love 
covers a multitude of 
sins. {I}9_{/}Welcome one 
another into your houses 
without complaining. 
{I}10_{/}Serve one 
another with the gifts 
each of you received, 
thus becoming good 
managers of the varied 
graces of God. 
{I}11_{/}If you speak, 
deliver the word of God; 
if you have a special 
ministry, let it be seen 
as God's power so that, 
in everything, God may be 
glorified in Jesus 
Christ. To him belong 
glory and power forever 
and ever. Amen.
BE GLAD TO SHARE IN THE 
SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST{/}

{I}12_{/}My dear people, 
do not be surprised that 
you are being tested by 
fire. It is not an 
unusual occurrence. 
{I}13_{/}Instead, you 
should be glad to share 
in the sufferings of 
Christ because, on the 
day his Glory is 
revealed, you will also 
fully rejoice. 
{I}14_{/}You are 
fortunate if you are 
insulted because of the 
name of Christ, for the 
Spirit of glory rests on 
you. {I}15_{/}I suppose 
that none of you should 
suffer for being a 
murderer, a thief, a 
criminal or an informer; 
{I}16_{/}but if anyone 
suffers on account of 
being a Christian, do not 
consider it a disgrace; 
rather let this name 
bring glory to God.
{I}17_{/} The time of 
judgment has come and it 
begins with God's 
household. If its 
beginning so affects us, 
what will be the end of 
those who refuse to 
believe in the Gospel? 
{I}18_{/}If the just one 
is barely saved, what 
will happen to the sinner 
and unbeliever? 
{I}19_{/}So, then, if you 
suffer according to God's 
will, entrust yourself to 
the faithful Creator and 
continue to do good.
FURTHER ADMONITIONS{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}I now address 
myself to those elders 
among you; I, too, am an 
elder and a witness to 
the sufferings of Christ, 
hoping to share the Glory 
which is to be revealed. 
{I}2_{/}Shepherd the 
flock which God has 
entrusted to you, 
guarding it not out of 
obligation but willingly 
for God's sake; not as 
one looking for a reward 
but with a generous 
heart; {I}3_{/}do not 
lord it over those in 
your care, rather be an 
example to your flock. 
{I}4_{/}Then, when the 
Chief Shepherd appears, 
you will be given a crown 
of unfading glory.
{I}5_{/}In the same way, 
let the younger ones 
among you respect the 
authority of the elders. 
All of you, be humble in 
your dealings with each 
other, because God 
opposes the proud but 
gives his grace to the 
humble.
{I}6_{/}Bow down, then, 
before the power of God 
so that he will raise you 
up at the appointed time. 
{I}7_{/}Place all your 
worries on him since he 
takes care of you.
{I}8_{/}Be sober and 
alert because your enemy 
the devil prowls about 
like a roaring lion 
seeking someone to 
devour. {I}9_{/}Stand 
your ground, firm in your 
faith, knowing that our 
brothers and sisters, 
scattered throughout the 
world, are confronting 
similar persecutions. 
{I}10_{/}God, the giver 
of all grace, has called 
you to share in Christ's 
eternal Glory and after 
you have suffered a 
little he will bring you 
to perfection: he will 
confirm, strengthen and 
establish you forever. 
{I}11_{/}Glory be to him 
forever and ever. Amen.
{I}12_{/}I have had these 
few lines of 
encouragement written to 
you by Silvanus, our 
brother, whom I know to 
be trustworthy. For I 
wanted to remind you of 
the kindness of God 
really present in all 
this. Hold on to it.
{I}13_{/}Greetings from 
the community in Babylon, 
gathered by God, and from 
my son, Mark.
{I}14_{/}Greet one 
another with a friendly 
embrace. Peace to you all 
who are in Christ.

