As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires [you used to conform to] in your ignorance,

but as the one who called you [is] holy, [you] yourselves be holy in all [your] conduct,

And if you call on [him] [as] Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence,

And [you] yourselves, as living stones, are being built up [as] a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, I urge [you] as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your soul,

maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in [the things] in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority,

or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.

For the will of God is as follows: [by] doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

[Live] as free [persons], and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.

Husbands, in the same way live with [your wives] {knowledgeably}, as with the weaker female vessel, showing [them] honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

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.

Just as each one has received a gift, [use] it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

If anyone speaks, [let it be] as the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [let it be] as by the strength that God provides, so that in all [things] God will be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power {forever and ever}. Amen.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, [when it] takes place to test you, as [if] [something] strange were happening to you.

By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

But if [someone suffers] as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name.

and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock.

Through Silvanus, the faithful brother (as I consider [him]), I have written to you {briefly} to encourage [you] and to attest that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

She [who is] in Babylon, chosen the same as [you], greets you, and [so does] my son Mark.