elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by sanctification of the Spirit, that they might be brought to the obedience, and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ: grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

they are to show that your faith when tested is found to be more precious than gold, which though it is perishable is tested with fire, and they will bring you praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

For which salvation the prophets sought and inquired anxiously, they having prophesied of the grace to you:

They were searching to know to what time, or to what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them kept pointing, when he ever testified beforehand concerning the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

If you call "Father" the one who judges everyone impartially according to what they have done, you must live in reverent fear as long as you are strangers in a strange land.

and, "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

and this they were destin'd to. but you are the chosen race, you are kings and priests, the holy nation, the peculiar people, that you might display his glory, who called you out

Who once not a people, and now the people of God: they not commiserated, and now commiserated.

Dearly beloved, I beg you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the evil desires of your lower nature, because they are always at war with the soul.

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.

In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any do not obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;

When they see your holy behaviour in the fear of God.

but they must be of an internal nature, the character concealed in the heart, in the imperishable quality of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God.

It was in that way in ancient times that those pious women who set their hopes on God made themselves attractive. They were submissive to their husbands,

They were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah, for example, obeyed Abraham and called him master. You have become true daughters of hers, if you practice doing right and cease from every fear.

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.

For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, neither be troubled."

having a good conscience; so that when they speak evil against you, they may be put to shame who slander your good manner of life in Christ.

after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

They think it is strange that you do not run with them into the same flood of debauchery, blaspheming:

But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead.

For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

So let those who are suffering by the will of God trust their souls to him, their faithful Creator, as they continue to do right.

Do not act as dictators over the people you are assigned to care for, but [rather] serve as examples of how they ought to live.

They at Babylon, elected jointly with you, and Mark, my son, salute you.