You must continue to love Him, although you have never seen Him, but because you do believe in Him, although you do not now see Him, you must continue to rejoice with an unutterable and triumphant joy,

It was made known to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in their searching for these things that have already been told to you by those who through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven brought you the good news. The angels long to take a peep into these things.

As obedient children, stop molding your character by the evil desires you used to cherish when you did not know any better,

because you know that you have not been ransomed with things that perish as silver or gold, from the futile way of living taught by your fathers,

because you have been born anew, not from a germ that perishes but from one that does not perish, by the word of the living and everlasting God.

It must be so, because the Scriptures say: "Here now I lay in Zion a chosen stone, a costly cornerstone, And not a single one who puts his trust in Him will ever be put to shame."

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once His mercy had not been shown you, but now it has.

Live like free men, only do not make your freedom a pretext for doing evil, but live like slaves of God.

You house-servants must be submissive to your masters and show them perfect respect, not only to those who are kind and fair but also to those who are cruel.

You married women, in the same way, must be submissive to your husbands, so that, if any of them do not believe the message, they may be won over without a word through the living of the wives,

Your adornments must be not of an external nature, with braids of hair or ornaments of gold, or changes of dress,

You married men, in the same way, must live with your wives in an intelligent consideration of them; you must show them deference, too, as the weaker sex, as they share with you the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Baptism, which corresponds to this figure, now saves you, too -- I do not mean the mere removal of physical stains, but the craving for a clear conscience toward God -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

They are astonished that you are not still rushing hand in hand with them into the same excesses of profligate living, and they abuse you for it;

Dearly beloved, do not be astonished that a test by fire is coming upon you, as though something strange were happening to you,

For not one of you should suffer as a murderer or as a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a meddler in other people's business,

but if anyone suffers for being a Christian, he must not be ashamed of it, but should keep on praising God for bearing this name.

be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you, not as though you had to but of your own free will, not from the motive of personal profit but freely,

and not as domineering over those in your charge but proving yourselves models for the flock to imitate;