²⁰ You intended to harm me,^(A) but God intended^(B) it for good^(C) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^(D)

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(A) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart.^(B) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(C) we are being renewed^(D) day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^(E)

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(A) tent^(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness^(A) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(B)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^{(D) 8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him^(E) 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.^(F)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(G) of the grace that was to come to you,^(H) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(I) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(J) in them was pointing when he predicted^(K) 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,^(L) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(M) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(N) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

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

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(X) who judges each person’s work^(Y) impartially,^(Z) live out your time as foreigners^(AA) here in reverent fear.^{(AB) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(AC) from the empty way of life^(AD) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(AE) of Christ, a lamb^(AF) without blemish or defect.^{(AG) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(AH) but was revealed in these last times^(AI) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(AJ) who raised him from the dead^(AK) and glorified him,^(AL) and so your faith and hope^(AM) are in God.

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

And this is the word that was preached to you.