Elect by the foreknowledge of God the father, through the sanctifying of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which through his abundant mercy begat us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death,

which are kept by the power of God through salvation, which salvation is prepared already to be showed in the last time,

Which, by his means, have believed on God that raised him from death, and glorified him, that your faith and hope might be in God.

for ye are born anew, not of mortal seed, but of immortal seed, by the word of God which liveth, and lasteth forever.

to whom ye come as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God and precious:

and ye, as living stones, are made a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood, for to offer up spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

which in time past were not a people, yet are now the people of God, which were not under mercy: but now have obtained mercy.

and see that ye have honest conversation among the gentiles, that they which backbite you as evil doers, may see your good works and praise God in the day of visitation.

For so is the will of God, that ye put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men:

as free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness: but even as the servants of God.

See that ye honour all men. Love brotherly fellowship, fear God, and honour the King.

Servants obey your masters with all fear, not only if they be good and courteous: but also though they be froward.

For it is thankworthy if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it patiently, then is there thanks with God.

but let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt, with a meek and a quiet spirit, which spirit is, before God, a thing much set by.

For after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God tire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands,

If any man long after life, and loveth to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak not guile:

Let him eschew evil and do good: let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Moreover, who is it that will harm you if ye follow that which is good?

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekness and fear:

having a good conscience, that when they backbite you as evil doers, they may be ashamed, forasmuch as they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ.

It is better - if the will of God be so - that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Forasmuch as Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, for to bring us to God, and was killed, as pertaining to the flesh: but was quickened in the spirit.

which were in time past disobedient, when the long suffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few - that is to say eight souls - were saved by water,

which signifieth baptism that now saveth us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth to God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

which is our righthand of God, and is gone into heaven: angels, power, and might subdued unto him.

that he henceforward should live as much time as remaineth in the flesh, not after the lusts of men: but after the will of God.

For unto this purpose, verily, was the gospel preached unto the dead; that they should be condemned of men in the flesh, but should live before God in the spirit.

As every man hath received the gift, minister the same one to another as good ministers of the manifold grace of God.

If any man speak, let him talk as though he spake the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God ministereth unto him. That God, in all things, may be glorified through Jesus Christ: to whom be praise and dominion forever and while the world standeth. Amen.

If ye be railed upon for the name of Christ; happy are ye. For the spirit of glory and the spirit of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of: but on your part he is glorified.

If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them which believe not the gospel of God?

Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to him with well doing, as unto a faithful creator.

see that ye feed Christ's flock, which is among you, taking the oversight of them: not as though ye were compelled thereto, but willingly; Not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind.

Likewise, ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder. Submit yourselves every man, one to another. Knit yourselves together in lowliness of mind. For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you, when the time is come.

The God of all grace - which called you unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus - shall his own self, after ye have suffered a little affliction, make you perfect: shall settle, strengthen, and establish you.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, have I written briefly, exhorting and testifying how that this is the true grace of God, wherein ye stand.