chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

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;

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.

being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

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

be ye yourselves also, as living stones, built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

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

having your manner of life among the gentiles honorable; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

For so is the will of God, that with welldoing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as servants of God.

Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and considerate, but also to the perverse.

For this is acceptable, if any one on account of a sense of duty to God endureth hardships, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye are beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently [it is glory]; for this is acceptable with God.

but the hidden man of the heart, in that which is imperishable, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

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 he that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;

let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.

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

having a good conscience, that, wherein ye are evil spoken of, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.

For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for welldoing, than for evildoing.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous one for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

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;

which in its antitype, baptism, is now saving you,not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the earnest seeking for a good conscience toward God,by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

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

that ye may no longer live the remaining time in the flesh after the lusts of men, but after the will of God.

For to this end was the gospel preached also to the dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in the spirit.

According as each one hath received a gift, minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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.

If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.

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.

tend the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for base gain, but with ready mind;

In like manner, ye younger men, submit yourselves to the elder; and all of you be clothed with humility toward each other; for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

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.

By Silvanus, the faithful brother as I think, I have written to you in few words, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.