Blessed be the God and Father of out Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, begat us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead,

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

Whom, not having seen, ye love; on Whom, though now not seeing Him, yet believing, ye exult with joy unspeakable and full of glory;

concerning which salvation the prophets earnestly sought and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you;

searching as to what time or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ Who was in them was pointing to, when testifying beforehand the sufferings destined for Christ, and the subsequent glories;

to whom it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering them; which things now were reported to you through those who proclaimed the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from Heaven; into which things angels desire to look carefully.

but, according as He Who called you is holy, do ye yourselves become holy in all your conduct;

And, if ye call on Him as Father, Who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to each one's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear;

who through Him believe in God, Who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

to Whom coming, a Living Stone, rejected, indeed, by men, but with God Elect, Precious,

Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Corner-Stone, Elect, Precious; and he who believes on Him shall in nowise be put to shame."

To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"

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

But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

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

or to governors, as sent through him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for praise to those who do well;

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;

Who, when reviled, reviled not again; when suffering, was not threatening, but committed Himself to Him Who judgeth righteously;

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by Whose bruise ye were healed.

For thus, in former times, the holy women also, who hoped in God, were wont to adorn themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands;

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom ye became children; if ye do good, and fear no alarm.

For, "He who wishes to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile;

because 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 will harm you, if ye become zealous for that which is good?

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always for an answer to every one who asks of you an account concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear;

having a good conscience; that, in whatever ye are spoken against, those who revile your good conduct may be put to shame.

in Whom, also, going, He preached to the spirits in prison,

who were once disobedient, when the long-suffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, while an ark was being prepared, entering into which, a few, that is, eight, souls were saved through water;

Who is on the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Christ, therefore, having suffered in flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind; because he who suffered in flesh has ceased from sin;

who shall render an account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

if anyone speaks, as uttering the oracles of God; if anyone ministers, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to Whom is the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Because it is the time for judgment to begin at the house of God; and, if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the Gospel of God?

Wherefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a Faithful Creator.

The elders, therefore, I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of Christ's sufferings, also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed;

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

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

And the God of all grace, Who called you into His everlasting glory in Christ, after ye have suffered a little while, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, settle you.

Salute ye one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.