according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and [for] sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you

who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,

in which you rejoice greatly, [although] now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials,

so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to [result in] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry,

investigating for what [person] or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating [when he] testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these [things],

Therefore, {when you have prepared your minds for action} [by] being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

for it is written, "You will be holy, because I [am] holy."

And if you call on [him] [as] Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence,

who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from the heart,

For "all flesh [is] like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off,

like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

And [you] yourselves, as living stones, are being built up [as] a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in scripture, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen [and] precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."

Therefore the honor [is] for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, "The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become {the cornerstone},"

But you [are] a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,

Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority,

or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.

For the will of God is as follows: [by] doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

[Live] as free [persons], and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.

Honor all [people], love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king.

For this [finds] favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows [while] suffering unjustly.

For what credit [is it] if, [when you] sin and are beaten [for it], you endure? But if you endure [when you] do good and suffer [for it], this [finds] favor with God.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps,

For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

For in the [same] way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves [by] being subject to their own husbands,

not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing [others], because for this [reason] you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.

For "The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and [his] lips must not speak deceit.

For the eyes of the Lord [are] on the righteous, and his ears [are open to] their prayer. But the face of the Lord [is] against those who do evil.

And who [is] the one who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good?

But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,

but set Christ apart [as] Lord in your hearts, always ready to [make] a defense to anyone who asks you [for] an accounting concerning the hope [that is] in you.

For [it is] better to suffer for doing good, {if God wills it}, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that he could bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

And also, corresponding to [this], baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God.

For the time that has passed [was] sufficient {to do what the Gentiles desire to do}, having lived in licentiousness, [evil] desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries,

Because for this reason also the gospel was preached to those who are dead, so that they were judged {by human standards} in the flesh, but they may live in the spirit {by God's standards}.

Now the end of all [things] draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for [your] prayers.

Above all, keep your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins.

Just as each one has received a gift, [use] it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

For [it is] the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if [it begins] out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?

and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock.

casting all your cares on him, because {he cares} for you.

Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, [after you] have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, [and] establish [you].