Blessed be God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which through his abundant mercy begat us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death,

which are kept by the power of God through salvation, which salvation is prepared already to be showed in the last time,

in the which time ye shall rejoice, though now for a season - if need require - ye are in heaviness, through manifold temptations,

Of which salvation have the prophets enquired, and searched, which prophesied of the grace that should come unto you;

searching when, or at what time, the spirit of Christ which was in them should signify - which spirit testified before - the passions that should come unto Christ, and the glory that should follow after.

Unto which prophets it was declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they should minister the things which are now showed unto you, of them which, by the holy ghost sent down from heaven, have preached unto you the things which the angels desire to behold.

But as he which called you is holy, even so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,

And if so be that ye call on the father, which without respect of person judgeth according to every man's works, see that ye pass the time of your pilgrimage in fear:

Forasmuch as ye know how that ye were not redeemed with corruptible gold and silver from your vain conversation, which ye received by the traditions of the fathers,

which was ordained before the world was made: but was declared in the last times for your sakes.

Which, by his means, have believed on God that raised him from death, and glorified him, that your faith and hope might be in God.

for ye are born anew, not of mortal seed, but of immortal seed, by the word of God which liveth, and lasteth forever.

but the word of the Lord endureth ever. And this is the word which by the gospel was preached among you.

and as newborn babes desire that reasonable milk which is without corruption, that ye may be grown therein.

Unto you therefore which believe is he precious: but unto them which believe not, the stone which the builders refused, the same is made the headstone in the corner

and a stone to stumble at, and a rock to offend them which stumble at the word, and believe not that whereon they were set.

which in time past were not a people, yet are now the people of God, which were not under mercy: but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers, and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which fight against the soul,

and see that ye have honest conversation among the gentiles, that they which backbite you as evil doers, may see your good works and praise God in the day of visitation.

which did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth:

which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously,

which his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we should be delivered from sin and should live in righteousness. By whose stripes ye were healed.

Likewise, let the wives be in subjection to their husbands, that even they which believe not the word, may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives:

but let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt, with a meek and a quiet spirit, which spirit is, before God, a thing much set by.

For after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God tire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands,

Moreover, who is it that will harm you if ye follow that which is good?

In which spirit, he also went and preached unto the spirits that were in prison,

which were in time past disobedient, when the long suffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few - that is to say eight souls - were saved by water,

which signifieth baptism that now saveth us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth to God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

which is our righthand of God, and is gone into heaven: angels, power, and might subdued unto him.

Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he which suffereth in the flesh ceaseth from sin,

which shall give accounts to him that is ready to judge quick and dead.

If any man speak, let him talk as though he spake the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God ministereth unto him. That God, in all things, may be glorified through Jesus Christ: to whom be praise and dominion forever and while the world standeth. Amen.

Dearly beloved, be not troubled in this heat, which now is come among you to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you:

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them which believe not the gospel of God?

The elders which are among you I exhort, which am also an elder and a witness of the afflictions of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be opened:

see that ye feed Christ's flock, which is among you, taking the oversight of them: not as though ye were compelled thereto, but willingly; Not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind.

whom resist, steadfast in the faith, remembering that ye do but fulfill the same afflictions which are appointed to your brethren that are in the world.

The God of all grace - which called you unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus - shall his own self, after ye have suffered a little affliction, make you perfect: shall settle, strengthen, and establish you.

Greet ye one another with the kiss of love. Peace be with you all which are in Christ Jesus. Amen. {Here ends the First General Epistle of Peter}