who are protected by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your exile on earth.

Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

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

Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the supreme authority,

For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

You wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,

when they see your chaste and respectful behavior.

but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God's sight.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with honor as the weaker partner, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

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

and keep a clear conscience, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.

Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belongs the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed,

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.