You ¹  once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, ²  but now you have received mercy.

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,

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

For ¹  who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

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

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, ¹  who is the Spirit of God, ²  rests ³  on you.

And God will exalt you in due time, ¹  if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand ² 

This brings you great joy, ¹  although you may have to suffer ²  for a short time in various trials.

if you have experienced ¹  the Lord’s kindness. ² 

And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ ¹  will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ² 

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.

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 

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.

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

by casting ¹  all your cares ²  on him because he cares for you.

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 

So ¹  they are astonished ²  when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you. ³ 

But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed ¹  you may also rejoice and be glad. ² 

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

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