that the proof of your faith, much more precious than gold which perisheth, but is tried with fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the manifestation of Jesus Christ;

Concerning which salvation the prophets sought earnestly and searched earnestly, who prophesied of the grace that was to come to you;

searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings to come upon Christ, and the glories that were to follow;

to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they were ministering the things, which have now been announced to you by them that have brought the glad tidings to you by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope undoubtingly for the grace that is to be brought to you at the manifestation of Jesus Christ;

knowing that not with perishable things, silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers,

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

as newborn babes, desire the spiritual, pure milk, that ye may grow thereby to salvation;

if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Because it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, honored; and he that believeth in him shall not be put to shame."

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light;

having your manner of life among the gentiles honorable; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

For so is the will of God, that with welldoing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

For to this ye were called; because even Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps;

who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously;

who himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross, that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the behavior of the wives,

but the hidden man of the heart, in that which is imperishable, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Dwell likewise, O husband, with thy wife according to knowledge, as with the weaker vessel, giving her honor as being heir with thee of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but, on the contrary, blessing the evildoer; because for this end ye were called, that ye might inherit blessing.

"For he that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;

And who is he that shall harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. And be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear;

having a good conscience, that, wherein ye are evil spoken of, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.

For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for welldoing, than for evildoing.

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

who were disobedient in times past, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water;

Christ then having suffered in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

that ye may no longer live the remaining time in the flesh after the lusts of men, but after the will of God.

at which they are astonished that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you;

who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

For to this end was the gospel preached also to the dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in the spirit.

If any one speak, let him speak as uttering the oracles of God; if any minister, let him do it as from the ability which God giveth; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

but, in so far as ye share in Christs sufferings, rejoice; that also at the manifestation of his glory ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.

The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellowelder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a sharer in the glory that is to be revealed;

and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye will receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren in the world.

By Silvanus, the faithful brother as I think, I have written to you in few words, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

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