according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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

To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

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

having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding Word of God.

but the word of the Lord endures forever." This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.

coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

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

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

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

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you 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 wicked.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

For, "He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

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

Now who is he who will harm you, if you become zealous of that which is good?

having a good conscience; so that when they speak evil against you, they may be put to shame who slander your good manner of life in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

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

who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by means of water.

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you?not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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

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

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

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who do not obey the Good News of God?

Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, as God wants; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, towards one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives 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 to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.