7Ye husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the female, as the weaker vessel, as also heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
8Finally, all being of one mind, sympathizing, loving the brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded; 9not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary blessing, because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit blessing.
10For he who desires to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; 11let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it. 12Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are toward their supplications; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 13And who is he that shall harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good? 14But if ye even suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; but fear not with their fear, nor be troubled; 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always to give an answer to every one that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16having a good conscience, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ. 17For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. 18Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit; 19in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who were disobedient in times past, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water; 21which in an antitype, immersion, now saves us also (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; 22who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
IV. Christ then having suffered for us in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind; because he who suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2that ye no longer may live the remaining time in the flesh by the lusts of men, but by the will of God. 3For the time past suffices us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in wantonness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, carousings, and unhallowed idolatries; 4at which thing they are astonished, as ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you; 5who shall give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For to this end was the good news preached also to those who are dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but may live according to God in the spirit.
7But the end of all things is at hand. Be therefore sober, and watch unto prayer; 8but above all things having your love toward one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins; 9hospitable to one another, without grudging; 10according as each received a gift, ministering the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11if any one speaks, as [uttering] God's oracles; if any one ministers, as of the ability which God bestows; that God in all things may be glorified, through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
12Beloved, be not astonished at the fiery test taking place among you to prove you, as though a strange thing were befalling you; 13but, in so far as ye share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that also, at the revelation of his glory, ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you; [on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.][14]
15For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's matters; 16but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. 17Because the time is come that judgment should begin from the house of God; but if it begin first from us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous is with difficulty saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19Wherefore let those also, who suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.
V. The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; 2tend the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it not by constraint but willingly, not for base gain but with good will; 3neither as being lords over the heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.
5In like manner, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yea, all of you submitting to one another, gird yourselves with humility; because, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7casting all your care upon him, because he cares for you.