as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the desires which you formerly had in your ignorance;

but as he who has called you is holy, so be you holy in all your behavior:

because you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver or gold, from your vain mode of life received by tradition from your fathers,

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot and blemish,

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass; the grass withers, and its flower fails away: but the word of the Lord abides forever: and this is the word which has been preached as gospel to you.

as new-born babes, earnestly desire the pure spiritual milk, that you may grow by it,

Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by man, but in the sight of God, chosen and precious,

you, also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, that you may offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and sojourners, that you keep yourselves from fleshly desires, which war against the soul,

maintaining an honorable mode of life am one the Gentiles, that, inasmuch as they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, on account of your good works which they witness, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme ruler,

or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of those who do well.

as being free, and yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God.

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: and you are her children, if you do good, and fear no dismay.

Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, bestowing honor on the wife as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.

having a good conscience, that, inasmuch as they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who traduce your good con duct in Christ.

As each has received a gift, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man acts as a deacon, let him do this as from the strength which God supplies; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and strength from age to age. Amen.

Beloved, be not amazed at the fiery trial that has come on you to try you, as if some strange thing had happened to you.

But, inasmuch as you are partakers of the sufferings of the Christ,, rejoice, that, at the revelation of his glory, you may also be exceedingly joyful.

for no one of you should suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

But if any one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this account.

Wherefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God, by doing good, commit their souls to him as to a faithful Creator.

Act as shepherds to the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for the sake of sordid gain, but from readiness of mind:

neither as being lords over God's possessions, but being examples to the flock.

By Sylvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.