This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

if you have experienced the Lord's kindness.

You once were not a people, but now you are God's people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.

For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.

But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.

And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.