yes, to an inheritance that is imperishable, unsullied, and unfading, which is kept in heaven for you

who are always guarded by the power of God through faith, in order that you may receive that final salvation which will be ready to be uncovered for you at the last time.

so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even after it is shown by the test of fire to be genuine, may result in your praise and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ.

earnestly trying to find out the time, and the nature of the times, which the Spirit of the Christ within them pointed to, in foretelling the sufferings of the Christ and the glory that should follow them.

It was made known to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in their searching for these things that have already been told to you by those who through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven brought you the good news. The angels long to take a peep into these things.

because you know that you have not been ransomed with things that perish as silver or gold, from the futile way of living taught by your fathers,

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without a blemish or a blot,

who through Him trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory; so that your faith and hope may rest in God.

because you have been born anew, not from a germ that perishes but from one that does not perish, by the word of the living and everlasting God.

But the word of the Lord lives on forever"; that is, the message of the good news which has been brought to you.

and like new-born babies thirst for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to final salvation,

since you have learned by experience that the Lord is kind.

and keep on building yourselves up, as living stones, into a spiritual house for a consecrated priesthood, to offer up, through Jesus Christ, spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God.

So to you who put your trust in Him the honor belongs, but to those who fail to trust Him: "That stone which then the builders threw away Has now become the cornerstone,"

Keep on living upright lives among the heathen, so that, when they slander you as evildoers, by what they see of your good deeds they may come to praise God on the judgment day.

For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Indeed, it was to this kind of living that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you might follow His footsteps.

He bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to uprightness. By His wounds you have been healed,

You married women, in the same way, must be submissive to your husbands, so that, if any of them do not believe the message, they may be won over without a word through the living of the wives,

You married men, in the same way, must live with your wives in an intelligent consideration of them; you must show them deference, too, as the weaker sex, as they share with you the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

never returning evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but blessing instead, because it was for this that you were called, to obtain the blessing of heirs.

Because the eyes of the Lord are on upright men, and His ears listen to their pleading cries, but His face is against them that do wrong."

And who is it that will harm you if you are enthusiastic to do right?

and keep your conscience clear, so that those who bitterly abuse your excellent conduct as Christians may be ashamed of slandering you.

so that he no longer can spend the rest of his earthly life in harmony with human desires but in accordance with God's will.

For the time that is past is enough for you to have accomplished what the heathen like to do, leading lives that are steeped in sensuality, lustful desires, drunkenness, carousing, revelry, dissipation, and idolatry that leads to lawlessness,

They are astonished that you are not still rushing hand in hand with them into the same excesses of profligate living, and they abuse you for it;

This is why the good news was preached to the dead too, that they may be judged in their physical nature as men are, but live in the Spirit as God does.

But the end of everything on earth is near. So be serious and sober minded, that you may give yourselves to prayer.

If anyone is preaching, let him do it as one who utters the oracles of God; if anyone is rendering any service to others, let him do it with all the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Dearly beloved, do not be astonished that a test by fire is coming upon you, as though something strange were happening to you,

but so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that at the uncovering of His glory you may rejoice triumphantly.

So, as a joint-elder with them, a witness of the suffering borne by Christ, and a sharer of the glory that is to be uncovered, I beg the elders among you,

be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you, not as though you had to but of your own free will, not from the motive of personal profit but freely,

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown that never fades.

Therefore humbly submit to God's strong hand, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.

Resist him and be strong in faith, because you know that your brotherhood all over the world is experiencing the same sort of sufferings.

By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I regard him, I have written you this short letter, to encourage you and to testify that this is the true, unmerited favor of God. Stand firm in it.

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