As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to your former desires, in your ignorance;

But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation:

Seeing ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation delivered by tradition from your fathers,

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

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass: The grass is withered, and the flower thereof is fallen off;

and all evil-speakings, As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

To whom coming as unto a living stone, rejected indeed by men,

but chosen of God and precious, Ye also as living stones are built up, a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God thro' Jesus Christ.

Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly desires,

which war against the soul, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, 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, Or to governors,

as sent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well.

For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free,

yet not having your liberty for a cloak of wickedness, but as the servants of God.

For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

being subject to their own husbands, As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children ye are while ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

In like manner, ye husbands, dwell according to knowledge with the woman, as the weaker vessel; giving them honour, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

Finally, Be ye all of one mind, sympathizing with each other, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

As every one hath received a gift, so minister it one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him minister as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified thro' Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the might for ever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, wonder not at the burning which is among you, which is for your trial, as if some strange thing befell you: But as ye partake of the sufferings of Christ,

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other mens matters,

Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Neither as lording over the heritage, but being examples to the flock.

for your adversary the devil, walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:

By Silvanus, a faithful brother, as I suppose, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and adding my testimony, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand,