elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, in order to obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace be to you, and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, has, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, regenerated us for a living hope

who are kept secure by the power of God through faith, to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time:

that your faith, when proved, being much more precious than gold, which perishes though it be tried by fire, may be found to be for praise and honor and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Concerning which salvation the prophets that prophesied of the grace that should be for you, did inquire, and search diligently,

to whom it was revealed, that, not for themselves, but for us, they ministered the things that are now preached to you by those who have made known to you the gospel, through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; into which things angels desire to look.

Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind; be watchful, and hope constantly for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

but as he who has called you is holy, so be you holy in all your behavior:

because it is written, Be you holy, for I am holy.

because you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver or gold, from your vain mode of life received by tradition from your fathers,

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

having been begotten again, not with corruptible seed, but with incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

as new-born babes, earnestly desire the pure spiritual milk, that you may grow by it,

Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by man, but in the sight of God, chosen and precious,

For it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, chosen, precious; and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme ruler,

or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of those who do well.

For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse.

He himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. By his stripes you were healed.

Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may, without the word, be won by the conduct of their wives,

by observing your blameless and reverential conduct.

Let not your adorning be that which is outward, which consists in plaiting the hair, and wearing gold, and putting on apparel:

but let it be the hidden man of the heart, adorned with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great price.

Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, bestowing honor on the wife as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, be all of the same mind, be sympathizing, lovers of the brethren, kind-hearted, humble-minded;

And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?

But yet, if you even suffer for righteousness, happy are you. Yet fear not their terror, nor be troubled:

but reverence the Lord God in your hearts, and be always ready to answer every one that asks of you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

having a good conscience, that, inasmuch as they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who traduce your good con duct in Christ.

For it is better, if such be the will of God, that you suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.

For the time past of our life should be enough for us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, while we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelings, drinkings, and unlawful idolatries.

For this cause, indeed, even those who have died had the gospel preached to them, that though they might be judged according to the will of men in the flesh, yet they might live according to the will of God in the spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand; be sober-minded, therefore, and watchful, that you may pray.

Be hospitable, one to another, without murmuring.

If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man acts as a deacon, let him do this as from the strength which God supplies; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and strength from age to age. Amen.

Beloved, be not amazed at the fiery trial that has come on you to try you, as if some strange thing had happened to you.

But, inasmuch as you are partakers of the sufferings of the Christ,, rejoice, that, at the revelation of his glory, you may also be exceedingly joyful.

But if any one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this account.

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God?

Wherefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God, by doing good, commit their souls to him as to a faithful Creator.

The elders that are among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and a sharer in the glory that is to be revealed.

Act as shepherds to the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for the sake of sordid gain, but from readiness of mind:

Likewise, you younger, be in subjection to the older: do you all indeed be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the lowly.

Be sober, be watchful: for your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.

But may the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, confirm you.

To. him be glory and dominion from age to age. Amen.

By Sylvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus.