that the proving of your faith??eing much more precious than gold that perishes, but is proved through fire??ay be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

to whom it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering them; which things now were reported to you through those who proclaimed the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from Heaven; into which things angels desire to look carefully.

but, according as He Who called you is holy, do ye yourselves become holy in all your conduct;

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

foreknown, indeed, from a founding of a world, but manifested in the end of the times for you,

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God, that lives and abides.

Because "All flesh is as grass, and all its glory as the flower of grass: the grass withered, and the flower fell off; but the word of the Lord abides forever."

Having, therefore, put away all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all evil speakings,

to Whom coming, a Living Stone, rejected, indeed, by men, but with God Elect, Precious,

Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Corner-Stone, Elect, Precious; and he who believes on Him shall in nowise be put to shame."

To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"

But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

who once were not a people, but are now God's people; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

for so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

as free, and not holding your freedom as a cloak for wickedness, but as servants of God.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse.

For what glory is it, if, when sinning and being beaten, ye endure it? but, if, when doing well and suffering for it, ye endure it, this is acceptable with God.

Who, when reviled, reviled not again; when suffering, was not threatening, but committed Himself to Him Who judgeth righteously;

For, as sheep, ye were going astray; but now ye returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price.

not returning evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but, on the contrary, blessing; because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit a blessing.

because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are toward their supplication; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

But, if ye should even suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. But fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always for an answer to every one who asks of you an account concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear;

having a good conscience; that, in whatever ye are spoken against, those who revile your good conduct may be put to shame.

because Christ also suffered for sins once, a Righteous One in behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

which, in its anti-type, immersion, now saves you also (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

that ye no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh to the desires of men, but to the will of God.

For to this end was the Gospel proclaimed even to the dead, that they might, indeed, be judged according to men in flesh, but live according to God in spirit.

But the end of all things has drawn near; be ye, therefore, of sound mind, and be sober unto prayers;

but, in so far as ye share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of His glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.

but, if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.

feed the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it, not by constraint, but willingly; nor yet for base gain, but of a ready mind;

neither as lording it over the allotted charges, but becoming examples to the flock;

Likewise, ye younger, be subject to the elder; yea, all of you gird on the lowly mind to serve one another; because "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the lowly."