For all flesh ¹  is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; ²  the grass withers and the flower falls off,

but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.

And ¹  yearn ²  like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, ³  so that by it you may grow up to ⁴  salvation, ⁵ 

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

Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, ¹  is on the prowl looking for someone ²  to devour.

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

Like obedient children, do not comply with ¹  the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, ² 

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

like Sarah who obeyed ¹  Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children ²  when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. ³ 

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.

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

For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians ¹  desire. ²  You lived then ³  in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, ⁴  and wanton idolatries. ⁵ 

Finally, all of you be harmonious, ¹  sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues ¹  of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, ¹  even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, ² 

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you ¹  – not the washing off of physical dirt ²  but the pledge ³  of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,