Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. | Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. |
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? | And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? |
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But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. | Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. |
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. | But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. |
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. | As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. |
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. | And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” |
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. | Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. |
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment. | As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. |
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. | Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. |
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. | Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. |
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” | He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” |
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. | But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” |
Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. | But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. |
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. | But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. |
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. | Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. |
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” | But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” |
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. | For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. |
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. | And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. |
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. | Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. |
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. | For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. |
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. | Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. |
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. | For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. |
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. | Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. |
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” | Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” |
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. | But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. |