Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

⁸ Finally, [be] all of one mind, sympathising, full of brotherly love, tender hearted, humble minded;

⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary, blessing [others], because ye have been called to this, that ye should inherit blessing.

¹⁰ For he that will love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.

¹¹ And let him avoid evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it;

¹² because [the] eyes of [the] Lord [are] on [the] righteous, and his ears towards their supplications; but [the] face of [the] Lord [is] against them that do evil.

¹³ And who shall injure you if ye have become imitators of that which [is] good?

¹⁴ But if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye]; but be not afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;

¹⁵ but sanctify [the] Lord the Christ in your hearts, and [be] always prepared to [give] an answer [to] every one that asks you to give an account of the hope that [is] in you, but with meekness and fear;

¹⁶ having a good conscience, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.

¹⁷ For [it is] better, if the will of God should will it, to suffer [as] well-doers than [as] evildoers;

¹⁸ for Christ indeed has once suffered for sins, [the] just for [the] unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in flesh, but made alive in [the] Spirit,

¹⁹ in which also going he preached to the spirits [which are] in prison,

²⁰ heretofore disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in [the] days of Noah while the ark was preparing, into which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

²¹ which figure also now saves you, [even] baptism, not a putting away of [the] filth of flesh, but [the] demand as before God of a good conscience, by [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ,

²² who is at [the] right hand of God, gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being subjected to him.

4 Christ, then, having suffered for us in [the] flesh, do *ye* also arm yourselves with the same mind; for he that has suffered in [the] flesh has done with sin,

² no longer to live the rest of [his] time in [the] flesh to men's lusts, but to God's will.

³ For the time past [is] sufficient [for us] to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, walking in lasciviousness, lusts, wine-drinking, revels, drinkings, and unhallowed idolatries.

⁴ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same sink of corruption, speaking injuriously [of you];

⁵ who shall render account to him who is ready to judge [the] living and [the] dead.

⁶ For to this [end] were the glad tidings preached to [the] dead also, that they might be judged, as regards men, after [the] flesh, but live, as regards God, after [the] Spirit.

⁷ But the end of all things is drawn nigh: be sober therefore, and be watchful unto prayers;

⁸ but before all things having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;

⁹ hospitable one to another, without murmuring;

¹⁰ each according as he has received a gift, ministering it to one another, as good stewards of [the] various grace of God.

¹¹ If any one speak—as oracles of God; if any one minister—as of strength which God supplies; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the might for the ages of ages. Amen.

¹² Beloved, take not [as] strange the fire [of persecution] which has taken place amongst you for [your] trial, as if a strange thing was happening to you;

¹³ but as ye have share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, that in the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exultation.

¹⁴ If ye are reproached in [the] name of Christ, blessed [are ye]; for the [Spirit] of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you: [on their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.]

¹⁵ Let none of you suffer indeed as murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as overseer of other people's matters;

¹⁶ but if as a christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name.

¹⁷ For the time of having the judgment begin from the house of God [is come]; but if first from us, what [shall be] the end of those who obey not the glad tidings of God?

¹⁸ And if the righteous is difficultly saved, where shall the impious and [the] sinner appear?

¹⁹ Wherefore also let them who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.

5 The elders which [are] among you I exhort, who [am their] fellow-elder and witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also [am] partaker of the glory about to be revealed:

² shepherd the flock of God which [is] among you, exercising oversight, not by necessity, but willingly; not for base gain, but readily;

³ not as lording it over your possessions, but being models for the flock.

⁴ And when the chief shepherd is manifested ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.

⁵ Likewise [ye] younger, be subject to [the] elder, and all of you bind on humility towards one another; for God sets himself against [the] proud, but to [the] humble gives grace.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in [the due] time;

⁷ having cast all your care upon him, for he cares about you.

⁸ Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary [the] devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.

⁹ Whom resist, stedfast in faith, knowing that the selfsame sufferings are accomplished in your brotherhood which [is] in [the] world.

¹⁰ But the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, when ye have suffered for a little while, himself shall make perfect, stablish, strengthen, ground:

¹¹ to him [be] the glory and the might for the ages of the ages. Amen.

¹² By Silvanus, the faithful brother, as I suppose, I have written to you briefly; exhorting and testifying that this is [the] true grace of God in which ye stand.

¹³ She that is elected with [you] in Babylon salutes you, and Marcus my son.

¹⁴ Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who [are] in Christ.