who through him, believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.

having been regenerated, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of the living God, which remains.

Because, indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is good;

to whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious;

you, also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, most acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ.

who formerly were not a people, but now are a people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Have your behavior comely, among the Gentiles, that, whereas, they speak against you, as evil doers, having beheld your good works, they may glorify God, in the day of visitation.

or to governor, as those sent by him for the punishment, indeed, of evil doers; but for the praise of them who do good.

For so is the will of God, that, by doing good, you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Live as freemen, yet do not use your freedom as a covering of wickedness; but as the servants of God.

Treat all men with respect: love the brotherhood: fear God: honor the king.

Let household servants be subject to their masters, with all reverence; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

For this is acceptable, if any one, from conscience of God, sustain sorrows, suffering unjustly.

But what praise is due, if, when you commit faults and are buffeted, you bear it patiently? Yet if, when you do well, and suffer, you bear it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

but-the hidden man of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great value.

For thus, anciently, the holy women, also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands;

"For he who is desirous to enjoy life, and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

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

Besides, who is he that will do evil to you, if you be imitators of the Good One?

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be always prepared for giving an answer, with meekness and reverence, to every one who asks of you a reason for the hope which is in you.

Hold fast a good conscience, that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may be put to shame who arraign your good behavior in Christ.

For it is better to suffer as well doers, if the will of God appoints it, than as evil doers.

For even Christ once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death, indeed, in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit.

who formerly were disobedient, when the patience of God once waited, in the days of Noah, while an ark was preparing, in which few, that is, eight souls, were effectually saved through water-

the antitype, immersion, does, also, now save us, (not putting away the filth of the flesh; but seeking of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

who, having gone into heaven, is at the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being subjected to him.

so that he no longer lives his remaining time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

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

Let every one, according as he has received a gift, minister it to the others, as good stewards of the manifold favor of God.

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

If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

However, if any one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him even glorify God on that account.

Indeed, the time is come that punishment must begin at the house of God; and if it begin first at us, what the end of them who do not obey the gospel of God?

Wherefore, then, let those who suffer by the will of God, commit their own lives to him in well doing, as a faithful Creator.

Feed the flock of God, which is with you; exercising the overseer's office, not by constraint, but willingly; neither for the sake of sordid gain, but from good disposition;

neither as lording it over the heritage of God, but, being patterns to the flock:

For the like reason, you younger persons subject yourselves to the seniors. Yes, all be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives favor to the humble.

Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

And may the God of all favor, who has called us to his eternal glory, by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, himself make you complete; support, strengthen, establish you:

By Sylvanus, a faithful brother, (as I conclude,) I have written to you in few words, exhorting you, and strongly testifying that this is the true favor of God, in which you stand.