Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, begot us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

who are guarded by the power of God through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;

whom, having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Concerning which salvation the prophets sought earnestly and searched earnestly, who prophesied of the grace that was to come to you;

to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they were ministering the things, which have now been announced to you by them that have brought the glad tidings to you by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

but as he who called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your conduct;

And if ye call him Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to each ones work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear;

who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for you,

who through him have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

To whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but in the sight of God chosen, honored,

To you therefore who believe, is the honor; but to the disobedient, "the stone which the builders rejected, the same hath become the cornerstone,"

and "a stone of stumbling, and a rock to strike against;" even to those who stumble, being disobedient to the word; to which they were also appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light;

who once were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

or to governors, as being sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and the praise of those who do well.

who committed no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;

who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously;

who himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross, that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

For in this manner in the old time the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands;

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are toward their supplication; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

And who is he that shall harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?

who were disobedient in times past, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water;

who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

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

For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God; but if it first begin with us, what will be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God?

Wherefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in welldoing, as to a faithful Creator.

The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellowelder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a sharer in the glory that is to be revealed;

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;

whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren in the world.

But the God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ Jesus, will, after ye have suffered a while, himself make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.