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

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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

who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,

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

But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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 using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it , ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it , ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

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

For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

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

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

according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

if any man speaketh,'speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye ; because the'spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.

but if a man suffer 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: and if it begin first at us, what'shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

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

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him , I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.