1 Peter 4

1 Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, ye also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who did suffer in the flesh hath done with sin,

Since, then, Christ has suffered in the flesh, you also must arm yourselves with a determination to do the same--because he who has suffered in the flesh has done with sin--

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

that in future you may spend the rest of your earthly lives, governed not by human passions, but by the will of God.

3 for sufficient to us [is] the past time of life the will of the nations to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines, revellings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,

For you have given time enough in the past to the doing of the things which the Gentiles delight in-- pursuing, as you did, a course of habitual licence, debauchery, hard drinking, noisy revelry, drunkenness and unholy image-worship.

4 in which they think it strange — your not running with them to the same excess of dissoluteness, speaking evil,

At this they are astonished--that you do not run into the same excess of profligacy as they do; and they speak abusively of you.

5 who shall give an account to Him who is ready to judge living and dead,

But they will have to give account to Him who stands ready to pronounce judgement on the living and the dead.

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

For it is with this end in view that the Good News was proclaimed even to some who were dead, that they may be judged, as all mankind will be judged, in the body, but may be living a godly life in the spirit.

7 And of all things the end hath come nigh; be sober-minded, then, and watch unto the prayers,

But the end of all things is now close at hand: therefore be sober-minded and temperate, so that you may give yourselves to prayer.

8 and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;

Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

9 hospitable to one another, without murmuring;

Extend ungrudging hospitality towards one another.

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

Whatever be the gifts which each has received, you must use them for one another's benefit, as good stewards of God's many-sided kindness.

11 if any one doth speak — 'as oracles of God;' if any one doth minister — 'as of the ability which God doth supply;' that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power — to the ages of the ages. Amen. (aiōn g165)

If any one preaches, let it be as uttering God's truth; if any one renders a service to others, let it be in the strength which God supplies; so that in everything glory may be given to God in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the might to the Ages of the Ages. Amen. (aiōn g165)

12 Beloved, think it not 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 surprised at finding that that scorching flame of persecution is raging among you to put you to the test--as though some surprising thing were accidentally happening to you.

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

On the contrary, in the degree that you share in the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice, so that at the unveiling of His glory you may also rejoice with triumphant gladness.

14 if ye be reproached in the name of Christ — happy [are ye], because the Spirit of glory and of God upon you doth rest; in regard, indeed, to them, he is evil-spoken of, and in regard to you, he is glorified;

You are to be envied, if you are being reproached for bearing the name of Christ; for in that case the Spirit of glory-- even the Spirit of God--is resting upon you.

15 for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or as an inspector into other men's matters;

But let not one of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer, or as a spy upon other people's business.

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

If, however, any one suffers because he is a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God for being permitted to bear that name.

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

For the time has come for judgement to begin, and to begin at 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, the ungodly and sinner — where shall he appear?

And if it is difficult even for a righteous man to be saved, what will become of irreligious men and sinners?

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

Therefore also, let those who are suffering in accordance with the will of God entrust their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.