Petre, apostle of Jhesu Crist, to the chosen gestis, or comelingis, of dispersioun, or scateringe abrood, of Ponte, of Galathie, of Capadosie, of Asye, and of Bitynye, vp the prescience, or bifore knowinge, of God, the fadir, in to halewinge of the spirit, in to obedience, and sprengynge of the blood of Jhesu Crist, grace and pees to ȝou be multiplied. Blessid be God, and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, the which vp his greet mercy aȝen gendride vs in to quik hope, bi the aȝen rijsyng of Jhesu Crist fro deede men, in to heritage vncorruptible, and vndefoulid, and vnwelewable, that shal not fade, kept in heuenes in ȝou, that in the vertu of God ben kept bi the feith in to helthe, maad redy for to be shewid in the last tyme. In which ȝe shulen ioye, if it bihoueth now a litel for to be sory in diuerse temptaciouns; that the prouyng of ȝoure feith be miche preciouser than gold, that is proued bi fijr; be it founde in to heriyng, and glory, and honour, in to the reuelacioun of Jhesu Crist. Whom whan ȝe han not seyn, ȝe louen; in to whom also now ȝe not seynge, bileuen; forsothe ȝe bileuynge shulen haue ioye with oute forth in gladnesse vnenarraable, that mai not be told out, and glorified, bringynge aȝen the ende of ȝoure feith, the helthe of ȝoure soulis. Of whiche helthe profetes souȝten out, and enserchiden, that prophecieden of the grace to comyng in ȝou, sekinge which or what maner tyme the spirit of Crist signyfiede in hem, bifore tellinge the passiouns, that ben in Crist, and latter glories. To whom it is shewid, for not to hem silf, sotheli to ȝou thei mynistriden tho thingis, that now ben told to ȝou bi hem that euangelizeden to ȝou the Holy Goost sent fro heuene, in to whom aungels desijren for to biholde. For whiche thing be ȝe gyrd the leendes of ȝoure soule, sobre, parfijt, hope in to the ilke grace that is offrid to ȝou in to the reuelacioun, or shewinge, of Jhesu Crist, as sones of obedience, not to gydere liknyd to the former desijris of ȝoure ignoraunse, but vp him that clepid ȝou holy; that and ȝoure silf be holy in al lyuynge; for it is write, Ȝe shulen be holy, for I am holy. And if ȝe inclepen him fadir, the whiche with oute accepcioun of personys demeth vp the werk of eche man, lyue ȝe in drede in tyme of ȝoure pilgrimage, or litel dwellinge in erthe; witinge that not bi corruptible gold, or siluer, ȝe ben bouȝt aȝen of ȝoure veyn lyuynge of fadirs tradicioun, but bi the precious blood of the lomb vndefoulid and vnspottid, Crist Jhesu, bifore knowun sotheli bifore the making of the world, forsothe shewid in the laste tymes, for ȝou, that bi hym ben feithful in God; that reiside him fro deede men, and ȝaf to him euerlastinge glory, that ȝoure feith and hope were in God. Ȝe makinge chaast ȝoure soules in obedience of charite, in loue of britherhed; of symple herte loue ȝe to gydre bisiloker; born aȝen, not of coruptible seed, but of vncoruptible, bi the word of quike God, and dwellinge in to with outen ende. For ech flesch hay, and al the glorie of it as flour of hey; the hay drieth vp, and his flour fel doun; forsothe the word of the Lord dwellith in to with outen ende. Sotheli this is the word, that is euangelized to ȝou.
Therfore puttinge awey al malice, and al gyle, and symulaciouns, or feynynges, and enuyes, and al detraccioun; as now gendrid ȝonge children, resonable, with out gyle, coueyte ȝe mylk, that in it ȝe wexe in to helthe; if netheles ȝe taastiden, for the Lord is swete. To whom ȝe goynge nyȝe, a quyk stoon, reproued sotheli of men, forsothe chosen of God, and honourid, and ȝoure silf as quike stoones be aboue bildid spiritual housis, holy presthod, for to offre spiritual hoostes, or offringes, acceptable to God bi Jhesu Crist. For which thing the scripture holdith, Lo! I shal putte in Syon the hiȝest stoon, corner stoon, chosen, precious; and he that shal belieue in to him, shal not be confoundid. Therfore honour to ȝou bileuynge; forsothe to men not bileuynge, the stoon whom thei bildynge reproueden, this is maad in to the heed of the corner; and the stoon of offencioun, or hirtynge, and stoon of sclaundre, to hem that offenden bi word, nether bileuen, in which and thei ben put. Forsothe ȝe ben a kynde chosun, kyngly presthod, holy folk, puple of purchasinge, that ȝe telle the vertues of him, that clepide ȝou fro derknesses in to his wondirful liȝt. The whiche sum tyme not the puple of God, now sotheli the puple of God; the which not hauyng mersy, now forsothe hauyng mersy. Moost dere, Y beseche ȝou, as comelinges, or gestes, and pilgrimes, for to abstene ȝou fro fleschly desijris, that fiȝten aȝens the soule; hauynge ȝoure conuersacioun, or lijf, good among hethen men, that in that thing that thei bacbiten, or yuele treeten, of ȝou, as of mysdoers, thei biholdinge ȝou of good werkis, and glorifie God in the dai of visitacioun. Be ȝe suget to ech creature of man, for God; other to the kyng, as precellent, or more worthi in staat, other to dukis, as sent of him to the veniaunce of mysdedis, or mysdoeris, forsothe to the preysinge of goode dedis, or goode men. For so is the wille of God, that ȝe doynge wel, make the vnkunnyngnesse of vnprudent men for to be doumb. As fre men, and not as hauynge fredom the couering of malice, but as the seruauntes of God. Honoure ȝe alle men, loue ȝe britherhed, drede ȝe God, make ȝe the kyng honourable. Seruauntes, be ȝe suget in al drede to lordis, not onely to goode and mylde, but also to tirauntes. Forsothe this is grace, if for conscience of God ony man suffrith sorewes, or heuynesses, suffringe vniustly. Sotheli what grace is it, if ȝe synnynge and buffatid suffren? But if ȝe wel doynge suffren, this is grace anentis God. Forsothe in this thing ȝe ben clepid. For Crist suffride for vs, leuynge to ȝou ensaumple, that ȝe folewe the steppes of him. The which dide not synne, nether gyle is founde in his mouth. Which whan he was cursid, curside not; whan he suffride, he manaside not; sotheli he bitoke him to a man demynge him vniustly. Which he him silf suffride, or bar, oure synnes in his body on the tree, that we deede to synnes, lyue to riȝtwisnesse, bi whois wounde ȝe ben heelid. Forsothe ȝe weren as sheep erringe, but ȝe ben conuertid now to the shepherde, and bischop of ȝoure soulis.
Also and wymmen be suget to her husbondis; that if ony bileuen not to the word, bi the conuersacioun of wymmen be thei wonnen with outen word, biholdinge in drede ȝoure holy conuersacioun. Of the whiche be not with outforth curious ournyng of heer, or doyng aboute of gold, or ournyng of clothinge of vestymentis; but the ilke that is the hid man of herte, in vncorruptibilitie of quyete, or pesible, and mylde spirit, the which is riche in the siȝt of God. Sotheli so and holy wymmen hopinge in God, not in ournement of clothinge ourneden, or maden clene, hem silf, suget to her owne husbondes. As Sare obeschide to Abraham, clepinge him lord; of whom ȝe ben douȝtres wel doynge, and not dredinge ony perturbacioun. Also men to gydere dwellinge, vp science, or kunnynge, ȝeuynge honour to the wommans vessel, or body, as to the more sijk, as and to the euene eyris of grace of lijf, that ȝoure preyers ben not lettid. Forsothe in feith alle of oon vndirstondinge, or wille, in preyer be ȝe compacient, or eche suffring with other, louers of fraternyte, merciful, mylde, meke; not ȝeldinge yuel for yuel, nether cursyng for cursyng, but aȝenward blessyng; for in this thing ȝe ben clepid, that ȝe welde blessyng bi heritage. Forsothe he that wolde loue lijf, and see goode dayes, constreyne his tunge fro yuel, and his lijppis, that thei speke not gyle. Sotheli bowe he fro yuel, and do good; seke he pees, and parfijtly sue it. For the iȝen of the Lord on iust men, and the eres of him on the preyeris of hem; forsothe the cheer of the Lord on men doynge yuel thinges. And who is it that shal noye to ȝou, if ȝe shulen be goode suers? But if ȝe suffren ony thing for riȝtwisnesse, ȝe ben blessid; sotheli drede ȝe not the drede of hem, that ȝe be not disturblid. Forsothe halewe ȝe the Lord Crist in ȝoure hertis, euermore redy to do satisfaccioun to eche man axinge ȝou resoun of that feith and hope that is in ȝou, but with myldenesse and drede, hauynge good conscience; that in that thing that thei bacbiten of ȝou, thei be confoundid, the whiche chalengen falsli ȝoure good conuersacioun in Crist. Sotheli it is betere,if the wille of God wole, ȝe wel doynge for to suffre, than yuele doynge. For and Crist oonys dyede for oure synnes, he iust for vniust, that he shulde offre vs to God, maad deede sotheli in flesch, forsothe maad quike in spirit. In which thing and to hem that weren closid to gydre in prisoun he comynge in sthirit prechide; the whiche weren sumtyme vnbileueful, whan thei abiden the pacience of God in the dayes of Noe, whan the ark, or schip, was maad, in which a fewe, that is to seie, eiȝte soules ben maad saaf bi water. The which thing and baptym of lijk foorme makith vs saaf; not the putting awey of flesch of filthis, but the axing of a good conscience in to God, bi the aȝenrisyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that is in the riȝthalf of God, he swolewinge deeth, or destriyinge, that we shulde be maad eyres of euerlastinge lijf; he gon in to heuen, aungels, and powers, and vertues, maad sugettes to him.
Therfore Crist suffringe in flesch, and be ȝe armed bi the same thenking; for he that suffride in flesch ceesith fro synnes, that he lyue not now to the desijris of men, but to the wille of God, that is more of tyme in flesch. Sotheli the tyme passid is ynowȝ to the wille of hethen men to be endid, the whiche walkiden in leccheries, and desijris, in miche drinkinge of wijn, ofte etyngis, drinkingis, and vnleeueful worschepingis of ydolis. In whiche now thei ben a feerd on ech sijde, in which thing thei wondren, ȝou to gydere not rennynge in to the same confusioun of leccherie, blasfemynge. The whiche shulen ȝiue resoun to him, that is redy to deme the quike and deede. Sotheli for this thing and to deede men it is euangelized, that thei be demyd sotheli vp men in flesch, sotheli that thei lyue vp God in spirit. Forsothe the ende of alle thingis shal neiȝe. And so be ȝe prudent, and wake ȝe in preyers; bifore alle thingis forsothe hauynge charite ech to other in ȝou silf algatis lastinge; for charite couerith the multitude of synnes, holdinge hospitalite to gydere with outen grucchinge; ech man as he receyuede grace, mynistringe it in to ech other, as goode dispenderes of the manyfolde grace of God. If ony man spekith, speke he as the wordes of God; if ony man mynistrith, as of the vertu which God mynistrith; that God be honourid in alle thingis bi Jhesu Crist oure Lord, to whom is glory and lordship in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. Moost dere, nyle ȝe go in pilgrimage in feruour, that is maad to ȝou to temptacioun, as ony of newe thing bifalle to ȝou; but ȝe comunynge to the passiouns of Crist, haue ioye, that and ȝe gladinge with oute forth, haue ioye in the reuelacioun of his glory. If ȝe ben despisid in the name of Crist, ȝe shulen be blessid; for that that is of the glory and vertu of God, and the spirit that is his, restith on ȝou. Forsothe no man of ȝou suffre as a mansleere, or theef, or curser, or a desijrer of othere mennus thingis; forsothe if as a cristen men, shame he not, sotheli glorifie he God in this name. For tyme is, that doom bigynne at Goddis hous; sotheli if first of vs, what ende of hem, that bileuen not to the gospel? And sotheli if a iust man vnnethe shal be saued, where shal the vnpitous man and synner appeere? And so and thei that suffren vp the wille of God, bitaken her soulis in good dedis to the feithful maker of nouȝt.
Therfore I, euene eldre, biseche the eldre men that ben in ȝou, and I witnesse of Cristis passioun, which and comuner of that glorye, that is to be shewid in tyme to comynge. Fede ȝe the flok of God, that is in ȝou, purueiynge not constreynyngli, but wilfulli, vp God; not for grace, or loue, of foul wynnynge, but wilfully, nether as hauynge lordshipe in the clergie, but maad foorme, or ensaumple, of the flok, and of inwit. And whan the prince of shiperdis shal apeere, ȝe shulen receyue the vnwelewable crowne of glory, or that shal neuere faade. Also, ȝe ȝonge men, be ȝe suget to eldre men, forsothe schewe ȝe alle to gydere mekenesse; for the Lord withstondith proude men, forsothe he ȝiueth grace to meke men. Therfore be ȝe mekid vndir the miȝty hond of God, that he reise ȝou in the day of visitacioun, ȝe castinge in to him al ȝoure bisynesse, for to him is cure of ȝou. Be ȝe sobre, and wake ȝe, for ȝoure aduersarie, the deuel, as a roryng lyoun goith aboute, sekinge whom he shal deuoure. To whom aȝenstonde ȝe, stronge in feith, witynge the same passioun for to be to the ilke ȝoure britherhed, that is in the world. Forsothe God of alle grace, that clepide in to his euerelastinge glorye, ȝou suffringe a litel, he shal parforme, conferme, and make sad. To him glory and lordschip, in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. Bi Siluane, a feithful brother to ȝou as I deme, I wroot shortly; bisechinge, and witnessinge this for to be the verrey grace of God, in whiche ȝe stonden. The chirche that is gederid in Babyloyne gretith ȝou wel, and Markus, my sone. Grete ȝe wel to gydere in holy cosse. Grace be to ȝou alle that ben in Crist. Amen.
Copyright © 2013–2026 Jeremy J. Johnson. All rights reserved.