chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, begot us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

who are guarded by the power of God through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;

wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a short time, if need be, made sorrowful by manifold trials,

that the proof of your faith, much more precious than gold which perisheth, but is tried with fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the manifestation of Jesus Christ;

to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they were ministering the things, which have now been announced to you by them that have brought the glad tidings to you by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope undoubtingly for the grace that is to be brought to you at the manifestation of Jesus Christ;

but as he who called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your conduct;

because it is written, "Ye shall be holy, for I am holy."

knowing that not with perishable things, silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers,

To whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but in the sight of God chosen, honored,

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

Because it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, honored; and he that believeth in him shall not be put to shame."

having your manner of life among the gentiles honorable; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

or to governors, as being sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and the praise of those who do well.

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

who himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross, that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the behavior of the wives,

Whose adorning, let it not be the out yard adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing golden ornaments, or of putting on apparel;

Dwell likewise, O husband, with thy wife according to knowledge, as with the weaker vessel, giving her honor as being heir with thee of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

Finally, be, all of one mind, have fellow feeling, love as brethren, be compassionate, be humble;

But if ye even suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. And be not afraid at their terrors, nor alarmed;

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. And be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear;

having a good conscience, that, wherein ye are evil spoken of, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.

For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for welldoing, than for evildoing.

who were disobedient in times past, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water;

which in its antitype, baptism, is now saving you,not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the earnest seeking for a good conscience toward God,by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

For to this end was the gospel preached also to the dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in the spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Be hospitable to one another without grudging.

If any one speak, let him speak as uttering the oracles of God; if any minister, let him do it as from the ability which God giveth; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, be not surprised at the fiery trial which is taking place among you to prove you, as though a strange thing were befalling you;

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

For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God; but if it first begin with us, what will be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God?

The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellowelder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a sharer in the glory that is to be revealed;

tend the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for base gain, but with ready mind;

In like manner, ye younger men, submit yourselves to the elder; and all of you be clothed with humility toward each other; for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;

To him be the dominion for ever. Amen.

By Silvanus, the faithful brother as I think, I have written to you in few words, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.