Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect,

Petrus Apostolus Jesu Christi, electis advenis dispersionis Ponti, Galatiæ, Cappadociæ, Asiæ, et Bithyniæ,

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who dwell as foreigners up and down Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, unto the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

secundum præscientiam Dei Patris, in sanctificationem Spiritus, in obedientiam, et aspersionem sanguinis Jesu Christi. Gratia vobis, et pax multiplicetur.

chosen in the foreknowledge of God the Father, to be sanctified by the Spirit, to give their allegiance to Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood; Grace and peace be yours abundantly.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui secundum misericordiam suam magnam regeneravit nos in spem vivam, per resurrectionem Jesu Christi ex mortuis,

Blessed be that God, that Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has begotten us anew, making hope live in us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that can not fade, reserved in heaven for you,

in hæreditatem incorruptibilem, et incontaminatam, et immarcescibilem, conservatam in cælis in vobis,

We are to share an inheritance that is incorruptible, inviolable, unfading. It is stored up for you in heaven;

Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

qui in virtute Dei custodimini per fidem in salutem, paratam revelari in tempore novissimo.

and meanwhile, through your faith, the power of God affords you safe conduct till you reach it, this salvation which is waiting to be disclosed at the end of time.

Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:

In quo exsultabis, modicum nunc si oportet contristari in variis tentationibus:

Then you will be triumphant. What if you have trials of many sorts to sadden your hearts in this brief interval? That must needs happen,

That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

ut probatio vestræ fidei multo pretiosior auro (quod per ignem probatur) inveniatur in laudem, et gloriam, et honorem in revelatione Jesu Christi:

so that you may give proof of your faith, a much more precious thing than the gold we test by fire; proof which will bring you praise, and glory, and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;

quem cum non videritis, diligitis: in quem nunc quoque non videntes creditis: credentes autem exsultabitis lætitia inenarrabili, et glorificata:

You never saw him, but you learned to love him; you may not see him even now, but you believe in him; and, if you continue to believe in him, how you will triumph! How ineffable your joy will be, and how sublime,

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

reportantes finem fidei vestræ, salutem animarum.

when you reap the fruit of that faith of yours, the salvation of your souls!

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you.

De qua salute exquisierunt, atque scrutati sunt prophetæ, qui de futura in vobis gratia prophetaverunt:

Salvation was the aim and quest of the prophets, and the grace of which they prophesied has been reserved for you.

Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify: when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ, and the glories that should follow:

scrutantes in quod vel quale tempus significaret in eis Spiritus Christi: prænuntians eas quæ in Christo sunt passiones, et posteriores glorias:

The Spirit of Christ was in them, making known to them the sufferings which Christ’s cause brings with it, and the glory that crowns them; when was it to be, and how was the time of it to be recognized?

To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look.

quibus revelatum est quia non sibimetipsis, vobis autem ministrabant ea quæ nunc nuntiata sunt vobis per eos qui evangelizaverunt vobis, Spiritu Sancto misso de cælo, in quem desiderant angeli prospicere.

It was revealed to them that their errand was not to their own age, it was to you. And now the angels can satisfy their eager gaze; the Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven, and your evangelists have made the whole mystery plain, to you instead.

Wherefore having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Propter quod succincti lumbos mentis vestræ, sobrii, perfecte sperate in eam, quæ offertur vobis, gratiam, in revelationem Jesu Christi:

Rid your minds, then, of every encumbrance, keep full mastery of your senses, and set your hopes on the gracious gift that is offered you when Jesus Christ appears.

As children of obedience, not fashioned according to the former desires of your ignorance:

quasi filii obedientiæ, non configurati prioribus ignorantiæ vestræ desideriis:

Obedience should be native to you now; you must not retain the mould of your former untutored appetites.

But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:

sed secundum eum qui vocavit vos, Sanctum: et ipsi in omni conversatione sancti sitis:

No, it is a holy God who has called you, and you too must be holy in all the ordering of your lives;

Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

quoniam scriptum est: Sancti eritis, quoniam ego sanctus sum.

You must be holy, the scripture says, because I am holy.

And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one’s work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.

Et si patrem invocatis eum, qui sine acceptione personarum judicat secundum uniuscujusque opus, in timore incolatus vestri tempore conversamini.

You appeal to God as your Father; yes, but he judges each man impartially by what he has done; look anxiously, then, to the ordering of your lives while your stay on earth lasts.

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers:

Scientes quod non corruptibilibus, auro vel argento, redempti estis de vana vestra conversatione paternæ traditionis:

What was the ransom that freed you from the vain observances of ancestral tradition? You know well enough that it was not paid in earthly currency, silver or gold;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled,

sed pretioso sanguine quasi agni immaculati Christi, et incontaminati:

it was paid in the precious blood of Christ; no lamb was ever so pure, so spotless a victim.

Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you,

præcogniti quidem ante mundi constitutionem, manifestati autem novissimis temporibus propter vos,

Before the beginning of the world, God had foreknown him, but it was only in these last days that he was revealed, for your sakes;

Who through him are faithful in God, who raised him up from the dead, and hath given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.

qui per ipsum fideles estis in Deo, qui suscitavit eum a mortuis, et dedit ei gloriam, ut fides vestra et spes esset in Deo:

through him you have learned to be faithful to God, who raised him from the dead and endowed him with glory; your faith and your hope are to be centred in God.

Purifying your souls in the obedience of charity, with a brotherly love, from a sincere heart love one another earnestly:

animas vestras castificantes in obedientia caritatis, in fraternitatis amore, simplici ex corde invicem diligite attentius:

Purify your souls with the discipline of charity, and give constant proof of your good will for each other, loving unaffectedly as brethren should,

Being born again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God who liveth and remaineth for ever.

renati non ex semine corruptibili, sed incorruptibili per verbum Dei vivi, et permanentis in æternum:

since you have all been born anew with an immortal, imperishable birth, through the word of God who lives and abides for ever.

For all flesh is as grass; and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered, and the flower thereof is fallen away.

quia omnis caro ut fœnum: et omnis gloria ejus tamquam flos fœni: exaruit fœnum, et flos ejus decidit.

Yes, all mortal things are like grass, and all their glory like the bloom of grass; the grass withers, and its bloom falls,

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel hath been preached unto you.

Verbum autem Domini manet in æternum: hoc est autem verbum, quod evangelizatum est in vos.

but the word of the Lord lasts for ever. And this word is nothing other than the gospel which has been preached to you.