That the proof of your faith, which is much more precious than of gold, (that perisheth, though tried by fire) may be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, when Jesus Christ shall be revealed:

searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did declare in testifying beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ, and the glories following them:

to whom it was revealed, that it was not to themselves, but to us they ministered these things, which are now declared unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, through the holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

knowing that ye were redeemed from your vain conversation learned by tradition from your fathers, not with corruptible things, as silver and gold;

who through Him trust in God that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be fixed in God.

and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes desire that rational milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby:

for ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious;

Whence also it is said in scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, choice and precious: and he that confideth on it shall not be ashamed.

To you therefore who believe it is precious: but to them that are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner,

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should declare the glories of Him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

having a good conversation among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may glorify God in the day of their visitation, on account of the good works which they behold in you.

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

For so is the will of God, that by your good behaviour ye may silence the ignorance of foolish men:

For unto this are ye called; because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye might follow his steps.

who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.

Who Himself bare our sins in his own body on the cross, that we being dead to sins, might live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed.

Ye women likewise, be subject to your own husbands, that if any believe not the word, they may yet without the word be gained over by the deportment of the wives,

Whose adorning, let it not be that without, of plaiting the hair, and putting on of gold, or wearing fine clothes;

Ye husbands likewise, dwell with them according to knowledge, yielding due respect to the wife as the weaker vessel, and as joint-heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

not returning evil for evil, or reproach for reproach: but on the contrary blessing even those that curse you: knowing ye are called unto this, that ye may obtain a blessing.

"For he that would desire life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile;

let him seek peace, and pursue it: for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

And who will hurt you, if ye be imitators of Him that is good?

and be always ready to answer every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and reverence:

having a good conscience, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.

As Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust (that He might introduce us to God) being indeed put to death in the flesh, but raised to life by the Spirit:

who of old were disobedient, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing; wherein a few, that is eight souls, were saved by water.

Seeing therefore Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same thought, that he, who hath mortified the flesh, hath ceased from sin;

that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh according to the lusts of men, but after the will of God.

in which they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, and therefore speak evil of you:

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

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

but rejoice in that ye are partakers in the sufferings of Christ; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may also rejoice with exceeding joy.

For the time is coming when judgement is to begin at the house of God: and if at us first, what will be the end of those that obey not the gospel of God?

Wherefore let them, that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls in well-doing to Him as to a faithful Creator.

The elders that are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed; feed the flock of God that is among you,

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

whom resist, stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are endured by your brethren in the world.

Thus I have written briefly by Silvanus, a faithful brother to you (as I judge) exhorting and testifying, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.