But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.<n id="1" />

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it,<n id="1" /> than for doing evil.p>

The church<n id="1" /> in Babylon,<n id="2" /> chosen together with you,<n id="3" /> greets you, and so does Mark, my son.

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed &#8211; not by perishable things like silver or gold,

Let your<n id="1" /> beauty<n id="2" /> not be external &#8211; the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry<n id="3" /> or fine clothes &#8211;

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

So you who believe see<n id="1" /> his value,<n id="2" /> but for those who do not believe, <b><i>the stone that the builders rejected has become thei>b><n id="3" /> <i><b>cornerstoneb>,i><n id="4" />

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless<n id="1" /> others<n id="2" /> because you were called to inherit a blessing.

<p class="bodytext">after they were disobedient long ago<n id="1" /> when God patiently waited<n id="2" /> in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark<n id="3" /> a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

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>