Forp> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>the one who wants to love life and see good days must keepi>b><n id="1" /> <i><b>his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceitb>.i>p>

Yet do it with courtesy and respect,<n id="1" /> keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.<n id="2" />

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">Because Christ also suffered<n id="2" /> once for sins,p> <p class="poetry"><i>the just for the unjusti>,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">to bring you to God,p> <p class="poetry">by being put to death in the fleshp> <p class="poetry">but<n id="4" /> by being made alive in the spirit.<n id="5" />p>

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you<n id="1" /> &#8211; not the washing off of physical dirt<n id="2" /> but the pledge<n id="3" /> of a good conscience to God &#8211; through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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

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

Like obedient children, do not comply with<n id="1" /> the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,<n id="2" />

He was foreknown<n id="1" /> before the foundation of the world but<n id="2" /> was manifested in these last times<n id="3" /> for your sake.

<p class="bodytext">For<n id="1" /> who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

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

in that he spends the rest of his time<n id="1" /> on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.

They will face a reckoning before<n id="1" /> Jesus Christ<n id="2" /> who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

<t /><p class="bodytext">For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.<n id="1" />

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

Then<n id="1" /> when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.p>

And God will exalt you in due time,<n id="1" /> if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand<n id="2" />

by casting<n id="1" /> all your cares<n id="2" /> on him because he cares for you.

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.

Greet one another with a loving kiss.<n id="1" /> Peace to all of you who are in Christ.<n id="2" />p>

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