1 Peter 4

1 Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mind, because he who suffered in the flesh has finished [with] sin,

Since, then, Christ suffered in body, arm yourselves with the same resolve as he; for he who has suffered in body has ceased to sin,

2 no longer in the desires of men, but in the will of God, to live the rest of the time in the flesh;

and so will live the rest of his earthly life guided, not by human passions, but by the will of God.

3 for the time has sufficiently passed to have carried out the will of the nations, having walked in licentiousness, lusts, excesses of wines, revelings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,

Surely in the past you have spent time enough living as the Gentiles delight to live. For your path has lain among scenes of debauchery, licentiousness, drunkenness, revelry, hard-drinking, and profane idolatry.

4 in which they think it strange—your not running with them to the same excess of wastefulness, slandering [you]—

And, because you do not run to the same extremes of profligacy as others, they are astonished, and malign you.

5 who will give an account to Him who is ready to judge [the] living and [the] dead,

But they will have to answer for their conduct to him who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

6 for this also was good news proclaimed to dead men, that they may be judged, indeed, according to men in the flesh, but may live according to God in the Spirit.

For that was why the Good News was told to the dead also — that, after they have been judged in the body, as men are judged, they might live in the spirit, as God lives.

7 Now the end of all things has come near; be sober-minded, then, and be sober in [your] prayers.

But the end of all things is near. Therefore exercise self-restraint and be calm, that you may be able to pray.

8 Before all things, having earnest love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;

Above all things, let your love for one another be earnest, for ‘Love throws a veil over countless sins.’

9 [be] hospitable to one another, without murmuring;

Never grudge hospitality to one another.

10 each [one], according as he received a gift, ministering it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

Whatever the gift that each has received, use it in the service of others, as good stewards of the varied bounty of God.

11 if anyone speaks, [speak] as oracles of God; if anyone ministers, [minister] as of the strength which God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power through the ages of the ages. Amen. (aiōn g165)

When any one speaks, let him speak as one who is delivering the oracles of God. When any one is endeavouring to serve others, let him do so in reliance on the strength which God supplies; so that in everything God may be honour ed through Jesus Christ — to whom be ascribed all honour and might for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)

12 Beloved, do not think it strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,

Dear friends, do not be astonished at the fiery trials that you are passing through, to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 but according as you have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice, that you may also rejoice in the revelation of His glory—exulting;

No, the more you share the sufferings of the Christ, the more may you rejoice, that, when the time comes for the manifestation of his Glory, you may rejoice and exult.

14 if you are reproached in the Name of Christ—[you are] blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you; in regard, indeed, to them, is evil spoken of Him, and in regard to you, He is glorified;

If you are reviled for bearing the name of Christ, count yourselves blessed; because the divine Glory and the Spirit of God are resting upon you.

15 for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as a meddler into other men’s matters;

I need hardly say that no one among you must suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or for interfering in matters which do not concern Christians.

16 and if as a Christian, do not let him be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this respect;

But, if a man suffers as a Christian, do not let him be ashamed of it; let him bring honour to God even though he bears that name.

17 because it is the time of the judgment to have begun from the house of God, and if first from us, what [is] the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the House of God; and, if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God’s Good News?

18 And if the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?

If ‘a good man is saved only with difficulty, what will become of the godless and the sinful?’

19 So that those also suffering according to the will of God, as to a steadfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in doing good.

Therefore, I say, let those who suffer, because God wills it so, commit their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, and persevere in doing right.