Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners<n id="1" /> and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.<n id="2" />p>

But set Christ<n id="1" /> apart<n id="2" /> as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Concerning this salvation,<n id="1" /> the prophets<n id="2" /> who predicted the grace that would come to you<n id="3" /> searched and investigated carefully.

<p class="bodytext">Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

Live<n id="1" /> as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God&#8217;s slaves.<n id="2" />

For you were <b><i>going astray like sheepi>b><n id="1" /> but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.p>

So<n id="1" /> they are astonished<n id="2" /> when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.<n id="3" />

But if you suffer as a Christian,<n id="1" /> do not be ashamed, but glorify<n id="2" /> God that you bear such a name.<n id="3" />

Whoever speaks, let it be with<n id="1" /> God&#8217;s words.<n id="2" /> Whoever serves, do so with the strength<n id="3" /> that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong<n id="4" /> the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.p>

Such trials show the proven character of your faith,<n id="1" /> which is much more valuable than gold &#8211; gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away<n id="2" /> &#8211; and will bring praise<n id="3" /> and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.<n id="4" />

But you are <i>a chosen racei>, <i>a royal priesthoodi>, <i>a holy nationi>, <i>a people of his owni>, so that you may <i>proclaim the virtuesi><n id="1" /> of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Forp> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>all fleshi>b><n id="1" /> <b><i>is like grassi>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>and all its glory like the flower of the grass;i>b><n id="2" />p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>the grass withers and the flower falls off,i>b>p>

Yet do it with courtesy and respect,<n id="1" /> keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">So, since Christ suffered<n id="1" /> in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">In the same way, you who are younger,<n id="1" /> be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God <i><b>opposes the proud but gives grace to the humbleb>.i><n id="2" />

but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,

He was foreknown<n id="1" /> before the foundation of the world but<n id="2" /> was manifested in these last times<n id="3" /> for your sake.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Be subject to every human institution<n id="1" /> for the Lord&#8217;s sake, whether to a king as supreme

He<n id="1" /> <b><i>committed noi>b> sin <b><i>nor was deceit found in his mouthi>b>.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Finally, all of you be harmonious,<n id="1" /> sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.