so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even after it is shown by the test of fire to be genuine, may result in your praise and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ.

You must continue to love Him, although you have never seen Him, but because you do believe in Him, although you do not now see Him, you must continue to rejoice with an unutterable and triumphant joy,

who through Him trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory; so that your faith and hope may rest in God.

So once for all get rid of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all sorts of slander,

and like new-born babies thirst for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to final salvation,

It must be so, because the Scriptures say: "Here now I lay in Zion a chosen stone, a costly cornerstone, And not a single one who puts his trust in Him will ever be put to shame."

So to you who put your trust in Him the honor belongs, but to those who fail to trust Him: "That stone which then the builders threw away Has now become the cornerstone,"

Keep on living upright lives among the heathen, so that, when they slander you as evildoers, by what they see of your good deeds they may come to praise God on the judgment day.

For the Lord's sake submit to all human authority; to the emperor as supreme,

For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

You married women, in the same way, must be submissive to your husbands, so that, if any of them do not believe the message, they may be won over without a word through the living of the wives,

when they see how chaste and respectful you are.

You married men, in the same way, must live with your wives in an intelligent consideration of them; you must show them deference, too, as the weaker sex, as they share with you the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

For "Whoever wants to enjoy life and see delightful days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

and keep your conscience clear, so that those who bitterly abuse your excellent conduct as Christians may be ashamed of slandering you.

For it is better, if the will of God should plan it so, to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.

who had once been disobedient, while God's patience was awaiting in the days when Noah was preparing an ark, in which a few people-- eight, to be exact -- were brought safely through the water.

who has gone to heaven and is now at God's right hand, with angels, heavenly authorities and powers made subject to Him.

So then, since Christ has suffered in our physical form, you too must arm yourselves with the same determination. For whoever suffers in his physical form has done with sin,

so that he no longer can spend the rest of his earthly life in harmony with human desires but in accordance with God's will.

But the end of everything on earth is near. So be serious and sober minded, that you may give yourselves to prayer.

As all of you have received your spiritual talents, you must keep on using them in serving one another, as good trustees of God's many-sided favor.

If anyone is preaching, let him do it as one who utters the oracles of God; if anyone is rendering any service to others, let him do it with all the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

but so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that at the uncovering of His glory you may rejoice triumphantly.

For not one of you should suffer as a murderer or as a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a meddler in other people's business,

Because the time has come for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will the end be of those who are rejecting God's good news?

Therefore, those who suffer in accordance with God's will must also, in doing right, entrust their souls to the Creator who is faithful.

So, as a joint-elder with them, a witness of the suffering borne by Christ, and a sharer of the glory that is to be uncovered, I beg the elders among you,

You younger men, on your part, must be submissive to the elders. And you must all put on the servant's apron of humility to one another, because God opposes the haughty but bestows His unmerited favor on the humble.

Therefore humbly submit to God's strong hand, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.