Day 76 of 365

¹Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

²that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

³For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

⁴They think it is strange that you do not run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:

⁵who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

⁶For 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.

⁷But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

⁸Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

⁹Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

¹⁰As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

¹¹If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹²Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.

¹³But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

¹⁴If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

¹⁵For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters.

¹⁶But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

¹⁷For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who do not obey the Good News of God?

¹⁸"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?"

¹⁹Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

¹Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

²Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to God; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

³neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

⁴When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

⁵Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, towards one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

⁷casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

⁸Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

⁹Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.

¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

¹¹To him be the power forever. Amen.

¹²Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

¹³She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son.

¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

¹Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

²Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

³seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

⁴by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

⁵Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

⁶and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;

⁷and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

⁸For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

¹⁰Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

¹¹For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

¹²Therefore I will be ready always to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.

¹³I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;

¹⁴knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

¹⁵Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.

¹⁶For we did not follow cunningly devised tales, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

¹⁷For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

¹⁸We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

¹⁹We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:

²⁰knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

²¹For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

¹In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel.

²His tabernacle is also in Salem; His dwelling place in Zion.

³There he broke the flaming arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah.

⁴Glorious are you, and excellent, more than mountains of game.

⁵Valiant men lie plundered, they have slept their last sleep. None of the men of war can lift their hands.

⁶At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep.

⁷You, even you, are to be feared. Who can stand in your sight when you are angry?

⁸You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent,

⁹when God arose to judgment, to save all the afflicted ones of the earth. Selah.

¹⁰Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.

¹¹Make vows to the Lord your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.

¹²He will cut off the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth.

¹Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

²He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

³The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

⁵A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

⁷Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹²There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

¹⁵A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

¹⁶A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.

¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

¹⁸The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

²¹He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.

²²Do they not go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

²³In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

²⁶In the fear of the Lord is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.