¹⁷ ·You pray to God and call him Father, and he [^LSince you address as Father the one who] judges each person’s ·work [deeds] ·equally [impartially; without prejudice]. So while you are ·here on earth [living as exiles/strangers/sojourners], you should live with ·respect [fear] for God [Prov. 1:7]. ¹⁸ [^LFor] You know that in the past you were living in a ·worthless [meaningless; futile; vain; Eccl. 1:2] way, a way passed down from ·the people who lived before you [your ancestors]. But you were saved [ransomed; redeemed] from that useless life. You were ·bought [ransomed; redeemed; ^Clike a slave whose freedom was purchased by a payment], not with something that ·ruins [perishes; spoils] like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ [Is. 52:3], who was like ·a pure and perfect lamb [a lamb without defect or blemish; Lev. 1:3]. ²⁰ Christ was ·chosen [destined; ^Lforeknown] before ·the world was made [^Lthe foundation/creation of the world], but he was ·shown to the world [revealed] in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through Christ you ·believe [have faith/trust] in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God.