And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one's work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.

So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God's sight,

you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme

or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.

Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.

Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.

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

So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:

Give a shepherd's care to God's flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God's direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.