Kefa Alef

Chapter 1

1Kefa, an shaliach of Yeshua Mashiach, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of Elohim the Father, in sanctification of the Ruach, that you may obey Yeshua Mashiach and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Adonai Yeshua Mashiach, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yeshua Mashiach from the dead, 4to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5who by the power of Elohim are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, 7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honour at the revelation of Yeshua Mashiach— 8whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, 9receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11searching for who or what kind of time the Ruach of Mashiach which was in them pointed to when he predicted the sufferings of Mashiach and the glories that would follow them. 12To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Besorah to you by the Ruach HaKodesh sent out from heaven; which things malakim desire to look into. 13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua Mashiach— 14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 15but just as he who called you is kodesh, you yourselves also be kodesh in all of your behaviour, 16because it is written, “You shall be kodesh, for I am kodesh.” 17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, 18knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Mashiach, 20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, 21who through him are believers in Elohim, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in Elohim. 22Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Ruach in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently, 23having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of Elohim, which lives and remains forever. 24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; 25but Adonai’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Besorah which was preached to you.

Chapter 2

1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow, 3if indeed you have tasted that Adonai is gracious. 4Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim, precious. 5You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a kodesh priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua Mashiach. 6Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Tzion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.” 7For you who believe therefore is the honour, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” 8and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offence.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a kodesh nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10In the past, you were not a people, but now are Elohim’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12having good behaviour amongst the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify Elohim in the day of visitation. 13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for Adonai’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme, 14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. 15For this is the will of Elohim, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of Elohim. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear Elohim. Honour the king. 18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience towards Elohim. 20For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with Elohim. 21For you were called to this, because Mashiach also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 23When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds. 25For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Chapter 3

1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behaviour of their wives without a word, 2seeing your pure behaviour in fear. 3Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, 4but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in Elohim’s sight. 5For this is how in the past the kodesh women who hoped in Elohim also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. 6So Sarah obeyed Avraham, calling him Adonai, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror. 7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of Adonai are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of Adonai is against those who do evil.” 13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” 15But sanctify Adonai Elohim in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, 16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Mashiach. 17For it is better, if it is Elohim’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. 18Because Mashiach also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to Elohim, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Ruach, 19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who before were disobedient when Elohim waited patiently in the days of Noach while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21This is a symbol of immersion, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards Elohim—through the resurrection of Yeshua Mashiach, 22who is at the right hand of Elohim, having gone into heaven, malakim and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Chapter 4

1Therefore, since Mashiach suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of Elohim. 3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Goyim, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. 4They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 5They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For to this end the Besorah was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to Elohim in the spirit. 7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer. 8And above all things be earnest in your love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of Elohim in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of Elohim. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which Elohim supplies, that in all things Elohim may be glorified through Yeshua Mashiach, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13But because you are partakers of Mashiach’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14If you are insulted for the name of Mashiach, you are blessed, because the Ruach of glory and of Elohim rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. 16But if one of you suffers for being a follower of The Way, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify Elohim in this matter. 17For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of Elohim. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Besorah of Elohim? 18“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of Elohim in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

Chapter 5

1Therefore I exhort the elders amongst you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Mashiach, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of Elohim which is amongst you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away. 5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “Elohim resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Elohim, that he may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 10But may the Elohim of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Mashiach Yeshua, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of Elohim in which you stand. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Markos, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to all of you who are in Mashiach Yeshua. Amen.