Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, has, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, regenerated us for a living hope

for an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you,

who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

that the proving of your faith??eing much more precious than gold that perishes, but is proved through fire??ay be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

And if you give the name of Father to him who, judging every man by his acts, has no respect for a man's position, then go in fear while you are on this earth:

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

For, as Scripture says. Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him shall never be put to shame.

But ye are a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

For a man is approved if, mindful of God, he bears up under pain while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if, when you are struck for a fault, you take it patiently? But if when you are doing well and suffer for it, you always take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

The burden of our sins He Himself carried in His own body to the Cross and bore it there, so that we, having died so far as our sins are concerned, may live righteous lives. By His wounds yours have been healed.

For, as sheep, ye were going astray; but now ye returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

but set Christ apart [as] Lord in your hearts, always ready to [make] a defense to anyone who asks you [for] an accounting concerning the hope [that is] in you.

And also, corresponding to [this], baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

But the end of everything [as far as your lives are concerned] is near, so be sensible, and sober [so as to be] prayerful.

Beloved, wonder not at the fiery trial among you, which is come upon you for a trial, as if some strange thing happened to you;

But, in so far as ye are taking fellowship in the Christ's sufferings, rejoice! in order that, in the revealing of his glory also, ye may rejoice with exultation:

And if it is difficult even for a righteous man to be saved, what will become of irreligious men and sinners?

But the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, when ye have suffered for a little while, himself shall make perfect, stablish, strengthen, ground: