Exult in this, though now for a brief moment, if need be, you have suffered many hardships.

Him you love, though you have never seen him; in him you ever believe, though even now you see him not, and you are rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory,

It was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were ministering the truths which have now been announced to you, by those who preached the gospel to you, through the help of the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven??ruths into which angels long to look.

Like obedient children, do not fashion yourselves according to the former passions of your days of ignorance,

For you well know that not with perishable things, with silver or gold, were you redeemed from the emptiness of your manner of life, received by tradition from your ancestors;

For you have been born anew, not of perishable, but of imperishable seed, by the living, lasting word of God.

For you, then, that believe, is the preciousness; but for those who do not believe, A stone which the builders rejected, The same has become the head stone of the corner,

But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, that you may show forth the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light??10 you who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who were once without mercy, but now you have found mercy.

Live like free men; and yet do not make your freedom a cloak for misconduct, but be the slaves of God.

Household slaves, submit yourselves to your masters in all reverence; not only to the kind and gentle, but also to the unreasonable.

He was reviled, and reviled not back. When he suffered he never threatened but always committed his cause to the One who judges rightly.

In the same way you wives must be submissive to your own husbands; so that if some of them will not believe the message, they may apart from the message be won over by the behavior of their wives,

Your adornment ought not to be the outward adornment of plaited hair and golden jewels and the wearing of beautiful dresses;

In the same way you husbands live with your wives, according to knowledge, honoring your wife as of the weaker sex, yet as an heir with yourself of the grace of life; so that your prayers may not be hindered.

not paying back evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary giving a blessing. Because for this you have been called??o inherit a blessing.

But even if you should suffer in behalf of righteousness, you are happy. Do not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.

Baptism, the counterpart of that, now saves you (not the washing off of the filth of the flesh, but the prayer for a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

so that in future you may not spend your life in the flesh according to men's desires, but in the will of God.

They are astonished at this, that you do not run into the same excesses of profligacy as they do; and they speak evil of you.

Do not think it strange, beloved, that a fiery ordeal has come to test you, as though some surprising thing had befallen you.

But if any man is suffering as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him ever glorify God in this Name.

Be shepherds to your flock of God; take charge of them willingly, and not through compulsion; not for filthy lucre, but with a willing mind;

not by way of lording it over your heritage, but by becoming examples to the flock.