as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves to the former desires in your ignorance,

but according as He who did call you is holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour,

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and unspotted -- Christ's --

because all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away,

as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Beloved, I call upon you, as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires, that war against the soul,

having your behaviour among the nations right, that in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, of the good works having beheld, they may glorify God in a day of inspection.

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;

for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him 'sir,' of whom ye did become daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.

The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them, according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel -- to the wife -- imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

And finally, being all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brethren, compassionate, courteous,

having a good conscience, that in that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ;

each, according as he received a gift, to one another ministering it, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

if any one doth speak -- 'as oracles of God;' if any one doth minister -- 'as of the ability which God doth supply;' that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power -- to the ages of the ages. Amen.

Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,

but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice -- exulting;

for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or as an inspector into other men's matters;

and if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; and let him glorify God in this respect;

so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.

neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but patterns becoming of the flock,

Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,

Through Silvanus, to you the faithful brother, as I reckon, through few words I did write, exhorting and testifying this to be the true grace of God in which ye have stood.