To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, tho' now for a little while (if need be) ye are in heaviness thro' manifold temptations.

Whom having not seen, ye love: in whom tho' ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

To whom it was revealed, that not for themselves, but for us they ministered the things which have been now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: which things angels desire to look into.

As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to your former desires, in your ignorance;

Seeing ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation delivered by tradition from your fathers,

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Therefore to you who believe, he is precious: but to them who believe not, The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, to them who stumble, not believing the word, whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a purchased people, that ye may shew forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Who in time past were not a people, but now are the people of God;

who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

yet not having your liberty for a cloak of wickedness, but as the servants of God.

Honour the king, Servants be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

In like manner, ye wives, be subject to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives,

Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of curling the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel, But the hidden man of the heart,

being subject to their own husbands, As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children ye are while ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

In like manner, ye husbands, dwell according to knowledge with the woman, as the weaker vessel; giving them honour, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are called to this, to inherit a blessing.

But even if ye do suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be ye troubled, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

The antitype whereof, baptism, now saveth us, (not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Wherein they think it strange, that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,

Beloved, wonder not at the burning which is among you, which is for your trial, as if some strange thing befell you: But as ye partake of the sufferings of Christ,

Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: but if it begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Feed the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy gain, but of a ready mind,

And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.