Even the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, carefully researched and investigated this salvation.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look into.

Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy.

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.

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

As you come to him, the living stone who was rejected by people but was chosen and precious in God's sight,

This is why it says in Scripture: "Look! I am laying a chosen, precious cornerstone in Zion. The one who believes in him will never be ashamed."

Therefore he is precious to you who believe, but to those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

You household servants must submit yourselves to your masters out of respect, not only to those who are kind and fair, but also to those who are unjust.

When he was insulted, he did not retaliate. When he suffered, he did not threaten. It was his habit to commit the matter to the one who judges fairly.

After all, this is how holy women who set their hope on God used to make themselves beautiful in the past. They submitted themselves to their husbands,

"For the person who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

For the Lord watches the righteous, and he pays attention to their prayers. But the Lord opposes those who do wrong."

Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good?

Instead, exalt the Messiah" as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.

But do this gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah will be ashamed of slandering you.

who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water.

who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him.

Therefore, since the Messiah suffered in a mortal body, you, too, must arm yourselves with the same determination, because the person who has suffered in a mortal body has stopped sinning,

They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in their mortal flesh like all humans and live in the spiritual realm like God.

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do what is good.

Therefore, as a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiah's sufferings, and one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you by the Messiah Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, establish you, strengthen you, and support you.

Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is to be the true grace of God in which you are to stand firm!

Your sister church in Babylon, chosen along with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, whom I regard as a son.

Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace be to all of you who are in the Messiah!