James 1:1 - 2 Peter 2:16

English Standard Version

Greeting

1 ^(A)James, a servant^[a] of God and ^(B)of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To ^(C)the twelve tribes in ^(D)the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (E)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials ^(F)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(G)the testing of your faith ^(H)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(I)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

^5 (J)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(K)let him ask God, ^(L)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But ^(M)let him ask in faith, ^(N)with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like ^(O)a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 (P)he is a double-minded man, ^(Q)unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and ^(R)the rich in his humiliation, because ^(S)like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and ^(T)withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

^12 (U)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(V)the crown of life, ^(W)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire ^(X)when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ^(Y)sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ^17 (Z)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from ^(AA)the Father of lights, ^(AB)with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^{[d] 18 (AC)}Of his own will he ^(AD)brought us forth by the word of truth, ^(AE)that we should be a kind of ^(AF)firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

^19 (AG)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(AH)be quick to hear, ^(AI)slow to speak, ^(AJ)slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore ^(AK)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with ^(AL)meekness the implanted word, ^(AM)which is able to save your souls.

²² But be ^(AN)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(AO)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(AP)he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious ^(AQ)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's ^(AR)religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: ^(AS)to visit ^(AT)orphans and widows in their affliction, and ^(AU)to keep oneself ^(AV)unstained from the world.

The Sin of Partiality

2 My brothers,^{[e] (AW)}show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AX)the Lord of glory. ² For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³ and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” ^(AY)while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become ^(AZ)judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, ^(BA)has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be ^(BB)rich in faith and heirs of ^(BC)the kingdom, ^(BD)which he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you ^(BE)have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who ^(BF)drag you ^(BG)into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable ^(BH)name by which you were called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ^(BI)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you ^(BJ)show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point ^(BK)has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, ^(BL)“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^(BM)“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under ^(BN)the law of liberty. ¹³ For ^(BO)judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith ^(BP)but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ^15 (BQ)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ^16 (BR)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[f] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(BS)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(BT)by my works. ^19 (BU)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(BV)the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ^21 (BW)Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that ^(BX)faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed ^(BY)by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ^(BZ)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a ^(CA)friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also ^(CB)Rahab the prostitute justified by works ^(CC)when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Taming the Tongue

3 ^(CD)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For ^(CE)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, ^(CF)he is a perfect man, ^(CG)able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put ^(CH)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet ^(CI)it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(CJ)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, ^(CK)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,^[g] and set on fire by hell.^{[h] 7} For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, ^(CL)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people ^(CM)who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,^[i] these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? ^(CN)By his good conduct let him show his works ^(CO)in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter ^(CP)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not ^(CQ)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, ^(CR)demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But ^(CS)the wisdom from above is first pure, then ^(CT)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, ^(CU)full of mercy and good fruits, ^(CV)impartial and ^(CW)sincere. ¹⁸ And ^(CX)a harvest of righteousness ^(CY)is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Warning Against Worldliness

4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions^[j] are ^(CZ)at war within you?^{[k] 2} You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask ^(DA)wrongly, to spend it on your passions. ^4 (DB)You adulterous people!^[l] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(DC)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit ^(DD)that he has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But ^(DE)he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ^(DF)“God opposes the proud but ^(DG)gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. ^(DH)Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ^8 (DI)Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ^(DJ)Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and ^(DK)purify your hearts, ^(DL)you double-minded. ^9 (DM)Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (DN)Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

^11 (DO)Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.^[m] The one who speaks against a brother or ^(DP)judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is only ^(DQ)one lawgiver and ^(DR)judge, he who is able to save and ^(DS)to destroy. But ^(DT)who are you to judge your neighbor?

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Come now, you who say, ^(DU)“Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For ^(DV)you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, ^(DW)“If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. ^(DX)All such boasting is evil. ^17 (DY)So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Warning to the Rich

5 Come now, ^(DZ)you rich, weep and howl for the ^(EA)miseries that are coming upon you. ^2 (EB)Your riches have rotted and ^(EC)your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. ^(ED)You have laid up treasure ^(EE)in the last days. ⁴ Behold, ^(EF)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and ^(EG)the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of ^(EH)the Lord of hosts. ^5 (EI)You have lived on the earth in luxury and ^(EJ)in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in ^(EK)a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and ^(EL)murdered ^(EM)the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, therefore, brothers,^[n] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives ^(EN)the early and the late rains. ⁸ You also, be patient. ^(EO)Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord ^(EP)is at hand. ⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brothers, ^(EQ)so that you may not be judged; behold, ^(ER)the Judge is standing ^(ES)at the door. ¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take ^(ET)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of ^(EU)the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen ^(EV)the purpose of the Lord, how ^(EW)the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

¹² But above all, my brothers, ^(EX)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him ^(EY)sing praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, ^(EZ)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And ^(FA)if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore, ^(FB)confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, ^(FC)that you may be healed. ^(FD)The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.^{[o] 17} Elijah was a man ^(FE)with a nature like ours, and ^(FF)he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for ^(FG)three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ^18 (FH)Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

¹⁹ My brothers, ^(FI)if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone ^(FJ)brings him back, ²⁰ let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering ^(FK)will save his soul from death and ^(FL)will cover a multitude of sins.

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of ^(FM)the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to ^(FN)the foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(FO)in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and ^(FP)for sprinkling with his blood:

May ^(FQ)grace and ^(FR)peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

^3 (FS)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ^(FT)According to his great mercy, ^(FU)he has caused us to be born again to a living hope ^(FV)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to ^(FW)an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and ^(FX)unfading, ^(FY)kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God's power are being guarded ^(FZ)through faith for a salvation ^(GA)ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by ^(GB)various trials, ⁷ so that ^(GC)the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes ^(GD)though it is tested by ^(GE)fire—may be found to result in ^(GF)praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ^8 (GG)Though you have not seen him, you love him. ^(GH)Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining ^(GI)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, ^(GJ)the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring ^(GK)what person or time^{[p] (GL)}the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating ^(GM)when he predicted ^(GN)the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ^12 (GO)It was revealed to them that ^(GP)they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you ^(GQ)by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, ^(GR)things into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, ^(GS)preparing your minds for action,^[q] and ^(GT)being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, ^(GU)do not be conformed to the passions ^(GV)of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but ^(GW)as he who called you is holy, you also be holy ^(GX)in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, ^(GY)“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you ^(GZ)call on him as Father who ^(HA)judges ^(HB)impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves ^(HC)with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you ^(HD)were ransomed from ^(HE)the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but ^(HF)with the precious blood of Christ, like that of ^(HG)a lamb ^(HH)without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but ^(HI)was made manifest ^(HJ)in the last times for the sake of you ^21 (HK)who through him are believers in God, ^(HL)who raised him from the dead and ^(HM)gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for ^(HN)a sincere brotherly love, ^(HO)love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ^23 (HP)since you have been born again, ^(HQ)not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through ^(HR)the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

And this word ^(HU)is the good news that was preached to you.

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 ^(HV)So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ^2 (HW)Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual ^(HX)milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have ^(HY)tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone ^(HZ)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ^5 (IA)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as ^(IB)a spiritual house, to be ^(IC)a holy priesthood, ^(ID)to offer spiritual sacrifices ^(IE)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So the honor is for you who ^(IH)believe, but for those who ^(II)do not believe,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, ^(IL)as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are ^(IM)a chosen race, ^(IN)a royal ^(IO)priesthood, ^(IP)a holy nation, ^(IQ)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(IR)out of darkness into ^(IS)his marvelous light. ^10 (IT)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you ^(IU)as sojourners and exiles ^(IV)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ^(IW)which wage war against your soul. ^12 (IX)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(IY)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(IZ)the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

^13 (JA)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[s] whether it be to the emperor^[t] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(JB)to punish those who do evil and ^(JC)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, ^(JD)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16 (JE)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(JF)living as servants^[u] of God. ^17 (JG)Honor everyone. ^(JH)Love the brotherhood. ^(JI)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

^18 (JJ)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(JK)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(JL)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(JM)to this you have been called, ^(JN)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(JO)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (JP)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (JQ)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(JR)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (JS)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(JT)might die to sin and ^(JU)live to righteousness. ^(JV)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(JW)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(JX)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, ^(JY)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(JZ)even if some do not obey the word, ^(KA)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your ^(KB)respectful and pure conduct. ^3 (KC)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be ^(KD)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(KE)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(KF)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷ Likewise, ^(KG)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(KH)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[v] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(KI)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(KJ)brotherly love, ^(KK)a tender heart, and ^(KL)a humble mind. ^9 (KM)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(KN)bless, for ^(KO)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(KQ)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (KR)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(KS)Have no fear of them, ^(KT)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(KU)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(KV)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(KW)respect, ^16 (KX)having a good conscience, so that, ^(KY)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(KZ)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(LA)suffered^{[w] (LB)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(LC)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(LD)in the flesh but made alive ^(LE)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[x] he went and ^(LF)proclaimed^[y] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[z] they formerly did not obey, ^(LG)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(LH)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(LI)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(LJ)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(LK)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(LL)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(LM)is at the right hand of God, ^(LN)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(LO)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[aa] (LP)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(LQ)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(LR)has ceased from sin, ^2 (LS)so as to live for ^(LT)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(LU)no longer for human passions but ^(LV)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(LW)suffices ^(LX)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^(LY)debauchery, and ^(LZ)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(MA)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why ^(MB)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

^7 (MC)The end of all things is at hand; therefore ^(MD)be self-controlled and sober-minded ^(ME)for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since ^(MF)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (MG)Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ^10 (MH)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, ^(MI)as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks ^(MJ)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ^(MK)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything ^(ML)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^(MM)To him belong glory and ^(MN)dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(MO)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(MP)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(MQ)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (MR)If you are insulted ^(MS)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[ab] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(MT)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(MU)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(MV)if anyone suffers as a ^(MW)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(MX)in that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(MY)to begin at the household of God; and ^(MZ)if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who ^(NA)do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will ^(NC)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, ^(ND)as a fellow elder and ^(NE)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ^2 (NF)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[ad] (NG)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[ae] (NH)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not ^(NI)domineering over those in your charge, but ^(NJ)being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when ^(NK)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(NL)unfading ^(NM)crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^(NN)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^(NO)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

^6 (NP)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ^7 (NQ)casting all your anxieties on him, because ^(NR)he cares for you. ^8 (NS)Be sober-minded; ^(NT)be watchful. Your ^(NU)adversary the devil ^(NV)prowls around ^(NW)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 (NX)Resist him, ^(NY)firm in your faith, knowing that ^(NZ)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And ^(OA)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, ^(OB)who has called you to his ^(OC)eternal glory in Christ, will himself ^(OD)restore, ^(OE)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ^11 (OF)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹² By ^(OG)Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, ^(OH)I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is ^(OI)the true grace of God. ^(OJ)Stand firm in it. ¹³ She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does ^(OK)Mark, my son. ^14 (OL)Greet one another with the kiss of love.

^(OM)Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Greeting

1 Simeon^[af] Peter, a servant^[ag] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained ^(ON)a faith of equal standing with ours ^(OO)by the righteousness of our ^(OP)God and Savior Jesus Christ:

^2 (OQ)May grace and peace be multiplied to you ^(OR)in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him ^(OS)who called us to^[ah] his own glory and excellence,^{[ai] 4} by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become ^(OT)partakers of the divine nature, ^(OU)having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith ^(OV)with virtue,^[aj] and virtue ^(OW)with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control ^(OX)with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness ^(OY)with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection ^(OZ)with love. ⁸ For if these qualities^[ak] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or ^(PA)unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he ^(PB)is blind, having forgotten that he was ^(PC)cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,^[al] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and ^(PD)election, for if you practice these qualities ^(PE)you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you ^(PF)an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² Therefore I intend ^(PG)always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in ^(PH)the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this ^(PI)body,^{[am] (PJ)}to stir you up by way of reminder, ^14 (PK)since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, ^(PL)as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

¹⁶ For we did not follow ^(PM)cleverly devised ^(PN)myths when we made known to you ^(PO)the power and ^(PP)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but ^(PQ)we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ^(PR)“This is my beloved Son,^[an] with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on ^(PS)the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And ^(PT)we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention ^(PU)as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until ^(PV)the day ^(PW)dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For ^(PX)no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God ^(PY)as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(PZ)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(QA)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(QB)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(QC)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^(QD)will be blasphemed. ³ And ^(QE)in their greed they will exploit you ^(QF)with false words. ^(QG)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

⁴ For if God did not spare ^(QH)angels when they sinned, but ^(QI)cast them into hell^[ao] and committed them to chains^[ap] of gloomy darkness ^(QJ)to be kept until the judgment; ⁵ if he did not spare the ancient world, but ^(QK)preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought ^(QL)a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ if by ^(QM)turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, ^(QN)making them an example of ^(QO)what is going to happen to the ungodly;^{[aq] 7} and ^(QP)if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, ^(QQ)he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ⁹ then ^(QR)the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,^[ar] and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially ^(QS)those who indulge^[as] in the lust of defiling passion and ^(QT)despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble ^(QU)as they blaspheme the glorious ones, ^11 (QV)whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. ^12 (QW)But these, like irrational animals, ^(QX)creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(QY)the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure ^(QZ)to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,^[at] while ^(RA)they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery,^{[au] (RB)}insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts ^(RC)trained in greed. ^(RD)Accursed children! ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, ^(RE)they have gone astray. They have followed ^(RF)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(RG)gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; ^(RH)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.