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

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. ¹ 

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another ¹  as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

or to governors as those he commissions ¹  to punish wrongdoers and praise ²  those who do good.

Be subject to every human institution ¹  for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme

But if you suffer as a Christian, ¹  do not be ashamed, but glorify ²  God that you bear such a name. ³ 

So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:

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.

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

Dear friends, do not be astonished ¹  that a trial by fire is occurring among you, ²  as though something strange were happening to you.

So as you come to him, ¹  a living stone rejected by men but ²  chosen and priceless ³  in God’s sight,

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

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

and a stumbling-stone ¹  and a rock to trip over. ²  They stumble ³  because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. ⁴ 

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

and maintain good conduct ¹  among the non-Christians, ²  so that though ³  they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. ⁴ 

Give a shepherd’s care to ¹  God’s flock among you, exercising oversight ²  not merely as a duty ³  but willingly under God’s direction, ⁴  not for shameful profit but eagerly.

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.

after they were disobedient long ago ¹  when God patiently waited ²  in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark ³  a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

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