The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 803

1 Peter Chapter 1

He gives thanks to G.o.d for the benefit of our being called to the true faith and to eternal life, into which we are to enter by many tribulations. He exhorts to holiness of life, considering the holiness of G.o.d and our redemption by the blood of Christ.

1:1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, elect,

1:2. According to the foreknowledge of G.o.d 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.

1:3. Blessed be the G.o.d 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:

1:4. Unto an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you,

1:5. Who, by the power of G.o.d, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

1:6. Wherein you shalt greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:

1:7. 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.

1:8. 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;

1:9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1:10. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you.

1:11. 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.

1:12. 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.

1:13. 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.

1:14. As children of obedience, not fas.h.i.+oned according to the former desires of your ignorance,

1:15. But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:

1:16. Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

1:17. 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.

1:18. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers:

1:19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled.

1:20. Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you:

1:21. Who through him are faithful in G.o.d who raised him up from the dead and hath given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in G.o.d.

1:22. Purifying your souls in the obedience of charity, with a brotherly love, from a sincere heart love one another earnestly:

1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of G.o.d who liveth and remaineth for ever.

1:24. For all flesh is as gra.s.s and all the glory thereof as the flower of gra.s.s. The gra.s.s is withered and the flower thereof is fallen away.

1:25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel hath been preached unto you.

1 Peter Chapter 2

We are to lay aside all guile and go to Christ the living stone, and, as being now his people, walk worthily of him, with submission to superiors and patience under sufferings.

2:1. Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions,

2:2. As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

2:3. If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

2:4. Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honourable by G.o.d:

2:5. Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to G.o.d by Jesus Christ.

2:6. Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him shall not be confounded.

2:7. To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

2:8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.

2:9. But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

2:10. Who in times past were not a people: but are now the people of G.o.d. Who had not obtained mercy: but now have obtained mercy.

2:11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,

2:12. Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify G.o.d in the day of visitation.

2:13. Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for G.o.d's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling,

2:14. Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good.

2:15. For so is the will of G.o.d, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

2:16. As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of G.o.d.

2:17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear G.o.d. Honour the king.

2:18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward.

2:19. For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards G.o.d, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

2:20. For what glory is it, if, committing sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before G.o.d.