In such a hope keep on rejoicing, although for a little while you must be sorrow-stricken with various trials,

Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold -- gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away -- and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

whom though you have not seen, you love: and though he is not now the object of your view, yet you believe in him, and triumph with such a laudable transport, as cannot be express'd:

concerning which salvation seek out and search out did prophets who concerning the grace toward you did prophecy,

For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,

who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,

for the sake of you who through him trust in God, who raised him from the dead and showed him honor; and so your faith and hope rest on God.

For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

a stone over which men stumble and a rock of offence; they stumble over it in their disobedience to God's word. Such is their appointed doom.

Dear friends, I entreat you as pilgrims and foreigners not to indulge the cravings of your lower natures: for all such cravings wage war upon the soul.

Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Or unto governors, as, through him, sent - for vengeance on evil-doers, but praise to such as do good;

For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle,

For this is acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.

Do not let your ornaments be those of the body such as dressing of the hair, or putting on of jewels of gold or fair clothing;

Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham, even referring to him [in respectful terms such] as "sir." You [wives] are her [spiritual] descendants if you also do what is right and are not fearful [that things in life will turn out badly].

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

let him seek peace, and pursue it: for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

For it is better that you should suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing evil;

Now, those people you used to run around with cannot understand why you have stopped living such wasteful lives, so they just "badmouth" you.

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.

Above everything else, have a warm love for one another, for such a love keeps many sins from occurring [between you].

If someone's gift is speaking, he should [be sure to] say only what God wants him to. If a person's gift is serving, he should do so by the strength provided by God [who supplies all such gifts]. This is so that, in using all gifts, God may be honored through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs honor and power forever and ever. May it be so.

If you are denounced for the sake of Christ, you are blessed; for then the Spirit of glory and power, the Spirit of God himself, is resting on you.

But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.

And if people who are trying to do right [i.e., Christians] are saved through [suffering] such difficulties, where will the ungodly and sinful person end up, [if not in hell]?

shepherdize the flock of God which is among you, not coercively, but willingly, for the sake of God; not for filthy lucre, but cheerfully.

In a similar way, you young people must submit to the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: "God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble."

I send this short letter by Silas, our faithful brother--for such I regard him--in order to encourage you, and to bear witness that what I have told you is the true grace of God. In it stand fast.