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¹ If then the Messiah hath suffered for you in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind: for every one that is dead in his body, hath ceased from all sins,² 2 that he may no longer be alive to the lusts of men, while he is in the body, but [fn] to do the pleasure of God. ³ For the time that is past was enough, when ye wrought the pleasure of the profane, in dissoluteness, and in ebriety, and in lasciviousness, and in revelling, and in the worship of demons.

⁴ And lo, they now wonder, and reproach you, because ye revel not with them in the same former dissoluteness;⁵ who must give account to God, who is to judge the living and the dead.⁶ For on this account the announcement is made also to the dead, that they may be judged as persons in the flesh, and may live according to God in the spirit.

⁷ But the end of all things approacheth: therefore be sober, and be wakeful for prayer.⁸ And above all things, have fervent love one towards another; for love covereth a multitude of sins.⁹ And be ye compassionate to strangers, without murmuring.¹⁰ And let each of you minister to his associates the gift which he hath received from God; as being good stewards of the manifold grace of God.¹¹ Whoever will speak, let him speak as the word of God: and whoever will minister, as of the ability that God hath given him: so that in all ye do, God may be glorified, through Jesus the Messiah; to whom belongeth glory, and honor, for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² My beloved, be not dismayed at the trials that befall you, as if some strange thing had come upon you; for these things are for your probation.¹³ But rejoice, that ye participate in the sufferings of the Messiah, that so ye may also rejoice and exult at the revelation of his glory.¹⁴ And if ye are reproached on account of the name of the Messiah, happy are ye: for the glorious Spirit of God resteth upon you.¹⁵ Only let none of you suffer, as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer.¹⁶ But if he suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on account of this name.¹⁷ For it is the time when judgment will commence with the house of God: and if it commence with us, what will be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God?¹⁸ And if the righteous scarcely liveth, where will the ungodly and the sinner be found!¹⁹ Wherefore, let them who suffer according to the pleasure of God, commend their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.