predetermined, indeed, before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for you;

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower of it falls down; but the word of the Lord remains forever."

Be subject, therefore, to every human establishment for the Lord's sake; whether to the king, as supreme;

or to governor, as those sent by him for the punishment, indeed, of evil doers; but for the praise of them who do good.

For so is the will of God, that, by doing good, you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Treat all men with respect: love the brotherhood: fear God: honor the king.

For this is acceptable, if any one, from conscience of God, sustain sorrows, suffering unjustly.

Besides, to this you were called; for even Christ suffered for us, leaving us a pattern, that you should follow his footsteps;

For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd, and Overseer of your souls.

For thus, anciently, the holy women, also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands;

not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; but, on the contrary, bless: knowing that to this you were called, that you might inherit the blessing.

"For he who is desirous to enjoy life, and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their supplication; but the face of the Lord is against the workers of iniquity."

Nevertheless, although you even suffer for righteousness' sake, you are happy. Therefore, do not fear their fear, neither be troubled:

but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be always prepared for giving an answer, with meekness and reverence, to every one who asks of you a reason for the hope which is in you.

For it is better to suffer as well doers, if the will of God appoints it, than as evil doers.

For even Christ once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death, indeed, in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit.

Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, do you also warm yourselves with the same mind: for he who has suffered in the flesh, has ceased from sin;

For the time which has passed of life, is sufficient to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, having walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excesses in wine, revellings, carousals, and abominable idolatries.

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

And above all things, have fervent love to one another; for love will cover a multitude of sins.

If any one speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any one minister, let him do it as from the strength which God supplies; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, wonder not at the fiery trial among you, which is come upon you for a trial, as if some strange thing happened to you;

If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Feed the flock of God, which is with you; exercising the overseer's office, not by constraint, but willingly; neither for the sake of sordid gain, but from good disposition;

For the like reason, you younger persons subject yourselves to the seniors. Yes, all be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives favor to the humble.

Cast all your anxious care on him, because he cares for you.

to him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

And for this very reason, indeed, giving all diligence, add to your faith, courage; and to courage, knowledge;

for these things being in you, and abounding, make you to be neither slothful, nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wherefore, the rather, brethren, earnestly endeavor to make your calling and election sure; for doing these things, you shall never fall;

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his grandeur;

for when he received from God the Father honor and glory, a vice to this effect came to him from the magnificent glory, "This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight."

For God, indeed, did not spare the angels who sinned, but with chains of darkness confining them in Tartarus, delivered them over to be kept for judgment;

(for; -that righteous man, dwelling among them, by the sight and report of their unlawful deeds, tormented his righteous soul from day to day;)

but especially those who go after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and who despise government: being audacious, self-willed, who fear not to revile dignitaries;

But these, as natural, irrational animals, made for capture and destruction, speaking evil of matters which they do not understand, shall be utterly destroyed by their own corruptions;

These are wells without water, clouds driven by a tempest; for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever:

for, speaking great swelling words of falsehood, they allure by the lusts of the flesh, even by lasciviousness, those who have actually fled away from them who are living in error.

They promise them liberty, whilst they themselves are slaves of corruption: for every one is enslaved by that which overcomes him.

Therefore, it has been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.

and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as at the beginning of the creation.

But the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured up, being kept for fire to a day of judgment, and destruction of ungodly men.

expecting and earnestly desiring, the coming of the day of God; in which the heavens being set on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements burning, shall be melted?

And reckon the long-suffering of our Lord, to be for salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.

(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and declare to you that life which is eternal, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)

And he is a propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

On the other hand, I write to you a new commandment, which is true concerning him and concerning you. For the darkness is passing away, and the light, which is true, now shines.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father, but is of the world.

They went away from us, but they were not of us. For, if they had been of us, they would have abode with us; but they went away, that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.

Behold how great love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

Every one who works sin, works also the transgression of law; for sin is the transgression of law.

He who works sin, is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

By this we have known the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us; therefore we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

For by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

For this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and should love one another as he gave us commandment.

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is from God: and every one who loves, has been begotten by God, and knows God.

He who does not love, does not know God; for God is love.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent forth his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment: therefore, he who fears is not made perfect in love.