For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. ¹ 

Then ¹  when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.

The church ¹  in Babylon, ²  chosen together with you, ³  greets you, and so does Mark, my son.

Such trials show the proven character of your faith, ¹  which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away ²  – and will bring praise ³  and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁴ 

Concerning this salvation, ¹  the prophets ²  who predicted the grace that would come to you ³  searched and investigated carefully.

Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

Live ¹  as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. ² 

For you were going astray like sheep ¹  but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Let your ¹  beauty ²  not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry ³  or fine clothes –

For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,

For the eyes of the Lord are ¹  upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. ² 

But in fact, if you happen to suffer ¹  for doing what is right, ²  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ³  or be shaken. ⁴ 

Now it was for this very purpose ¹  that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, ²  so that though ³  they were judged in the flesh ⁴  by human standards ⁵  they may live spiritually ⁶  by God’s standards. ⁷ 

So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good. ¹ 

You ¹  have not seen him, but you love him. You ²  do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice ³  with an indescribable and glorious ⁴  joy,

They probed ¹  into what person or time ²  the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ ³  and his subsequent glory. ⁴ 

And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here ¹  in reverence.

you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer ¹  spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it says ¹  in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, ²  and whoever believes ³  in him ⁴  will never ⁵  be put to shame.” ⁶ 

For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.