Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.