Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,

but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior;

If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:

but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, namely Christ;

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby to salvation,

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

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

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

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, humble,

But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with humility and fear:

Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.

For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters.

Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, as God wants; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.