Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(A) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(B) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(C) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(D) because you ask with wrong motives,^(E) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(F) people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(G) means enmity against God?^(H) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^{(I) 5} Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]?^{(J) 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(L) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(M) Wash your hands,^(N) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(O) you double-minded.^{(P) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(Q) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(R)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(S) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[d] or judges them^(T) speaks against the law^(U) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(V) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(W) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(X) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(Y)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(Z) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(AA) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(AB) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(AC) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(AD) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(AE)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(AF) you rich people,^(AG) weep and wail^(AH) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(AI) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(AJ) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(AK) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(AL) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(AM) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(AN) in the day of slaughter.^{[e](AO) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(AP) the innocent one,^(AQ) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(AR) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(AS) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(AT) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(AU) is near.^{(AV) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(AW) or you will be judged. The Judge^(AX) is standing at the door!^(AY)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(AZ) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(BA) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(BB) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(BC) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(BD)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(BE)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(BF) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(BG) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(BH) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(BI) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(BJ) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(BK) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(BL) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(BM)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(BN) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(BO) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(BP)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(BQ) and someone should bring that person back,^{(BR) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(BS) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(BT)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,^(A)

To God’s elect,^(B) exiles^(C) scattered^(D) throughout the provinces of Pontus,^(E) Galatia,^(F) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,^{(G) 2} who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge^(H) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,^(I) to be obedient^(J) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:^(K)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.^(L)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(M) In his great mercy^(N) he has given us new birth^(O) into a living hope^(P) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^{(Q) 4} and into an inheritance^(R) that can never perish, spoil or fade.^(S) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,^{(T) 5} who through faith are shielded by God’s power^(U) until the coming of the salvation^(V) that is ready to be revealed^(W) in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice,^(X) though now for a little while^(Y) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.^{(Z) 7} These have come so that the proven genuineness^(AA) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(AB)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(AC) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^{(AD) 8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him^(AE) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.^(AF)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(AG) of the grace that was to come to you,^(AH) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(AI) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(AJ) in them was pointing when he predicted^(AK) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,^(AL) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(AM) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(AN) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,^(AO) set your hope^(AP) on the grace to be brought to you^(AQ) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.^{(AR) 14} As obedient^(AS) children, do not conform^(AT) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.^{(AU) 15} But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(AV) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](AW)

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(AX) who judges each person’s work^(AY) impartially,^(AZ) live out your time as foreigners^(BA) here in reverent fear.^{(BB) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(BC) from the empty way of life^(BD) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(BE) of Christ, a lamb^(BF) without blemish or defect.^{(BG) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(BH) but was revealed in these last times^(BI) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(BJ) who raised him from the dead^(BK) and glorified him,^(BL) and so your faith and hope^(BM) are in God.

²² Now that you have purified^(BN) yourselves by obeying^(BO) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,^(BP) from the heart.^{[b] 23} For you have been born again,^(BQ) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,^(BR) through the living and enduring word of God.^{(BS) 24} For,

And this is the word that was preached to you.

2 Therefore, rid yourselves^(BU) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander^(BV) of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(BW) so that by it you may grow up^(BX) in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.^(BY)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone^(BZ)—rejected by humans but chosen by God^(CA) and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built^(CB) into a spiritual house^[d](CC) to be a holy priesthood,^(CD) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(CE) 6} For in Scripture it says:

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(CH)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(CL)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(CM) a royal priesthood,^(CN) a holy nation,^(CO) God’s special possession,^(CP) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{(CQ) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^(CR) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends,^(CS) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^(CT) to abstain from sinful desires,^(CU) which wage war against your soul.^{(CV) 12} Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^(CW) and glorify God^(CX) on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:^(CY) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong^(CZ) and to commend those who do right.^{(DA) 15} For it is God’s will^(DB) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.^{(DC) 16} Live as free people,^(DD) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;^(DE) live as God’s slaves.^{(DF) 17} Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,^(DG) fear God, honor the emperor.^(DH)

¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,^(DI) not only to those who are good and considerate,^(DJ) but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^{(DK) 20} But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.^{(DL) 21} To this^(DM) you were called,^(DN) because Christ suffered for you,^(DO) leaving you an example,^(DP) that you should follow in his steps.

²³ When they hurled their insults at him,^(DS) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(DT) Instead, he entrusted himself^(DU) to him who judges justly.^{(DV) 24} “He himself bore our sins”^(DW) in his body on the cross,^(DX) so that we might die to sins^(DY) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^{(DZ) 25} For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[i](EA) but now you have returned to the Shepherd^(EB) and Overseer of your souls.^(EC)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves^(ED) to your own husbands^(EE) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over^(EF) without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.^{(EG) 4} Rather, it should be that of your inner self,^(EH) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.^{(EI) 5} For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God^(EJ) used to adorn themselves.^(EK) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.^(EL) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

⁷ Husbands,^(EM) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded,^(EN) be sympathetic, love one another,^(EO) be compassionate and humble.^{(EP) 9} Do not repay evil with evil^(EQ) or insult with insult.^(ER) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^(ES) because to this^(ET) you were called^(EU) so that you may inherit a blessing.^{(EV) 10} For,

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{(EX) 14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^(EY) “Do not fear their threats^[k]; do not be frightened.”^{[l](EZ) 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(FA) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(FB) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(FC) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(FD) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(FE) to suffer for doing good^(FF) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(FG) for sins,^(FH) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(FI) He was put to death in the body^(FJ) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(FK) 19} After being made alive,^[m] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(FL)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(FM) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(FN) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(FO) were saved^(FP) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(FQ) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(FR) toward God.^[n] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(FS) 22} who has gone into heaven^(FT) and is at God’s right hand^(FU)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(FV)