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

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.

as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves to the former desires in your ignorance;

knowing that, not with perishable things, with silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain course of life handed down from your fathers;

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God, that lives and abides.

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

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

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

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

In like manner, ye wives, be subject to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may, without the word, be gained through the conduct of their wives,

whose adorning, let it not be the outward one of braiding of hair and of wearing of golden ornaments, or of putting on apparel;

Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with them according to knowledge, assigning honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

not returning evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but, on the contrary, blessing; because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit a blessing.

But, if ye should even suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. But fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

which, in its anti-type, immersion, now saves you also (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

at which they are surprised, since ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you;

Beloved, be not surprised at the fiery-test taking place among you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened to you;

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

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?

feed the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it, not by constraint, but willingly; nor yet for base gain, but of a ready mind;