1 Peter 4 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

So since The One suffered physically, arm yourselves with the same mindset -- because anyone who has suffered physically has broken free from corruption's grip.

The result is that you no longer live the rest of your time on earth driven by human cravings, but driven by what God wants.

You've already spent enough time doing what the non-Jewish world loves to do -- living in unbridled excess, cravings, drunkenness, wild parties, drinking binges, and disgusting worship of false gods.

They think it's strange that you don't jump into the same flood of reckless living with them anymore, so they trash-talk you.

But they will have to answer to the one who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

This is exactly why the good news was announced even to those who are now dead -- so that even though they were judged in the body the way all humans are, they could live in the spirit the way God does.

The end of all things is close. So think clearly and stay disciplined so you can pray.

Above everything else, love each other deeply and consistently, because love covers over a huge number of failures.

Be welcoming hosts to each other without complaining about it.

Each of you has received a gift of undeserved kindness, so use it to serve each other as good managers of God's richly varied generous favor.

If someone speaks, they should speak as if delivering God's own words. If someone serves, they should serve with the strength God provides. Do this so that God gets all the credit in everything through Jesus, The One -- to him belongs the splendor and the power for all of time. Absolutely.

Friends, don't be shocked by the fiery ordeal hitting you, as if something bizarre were happening to you.

Instead, celebrate! Because the more you share in The One's sufferings, the more you'll be overflowing with joy when his splendor is revealed.

If you're insulted because of the name of The One, life is deeply good for you, because the Breath of splendor -- the Breath of God -- rests on you.

Make sure none of you suffers as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or as someone who meddles in other people's business.

But if you suffer because you follow The One, don't be ashamed. Instead, give God credit because you carry that name.

Because it's time for judgment to begin, and it starts with God's own household. And if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who refuse to trust the good news from God?

And if it's hard enough for the person living right to be rescued, what will happen to the one who rejects God and keeps failing?

So then, those who suffer because God has decided it should be that way should keep doing good and trust their lives to a faithful Creator.