1 Peter 2

1 Therefore, set aside all malice and all deceitfulness, as well as falseness and envy and every detraction.2 Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation,3 if it is true that you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.4 And approaching him as if he were a living stone, rejected by men, certainly, but elect and honored by God,5 be also yourselves like living stones, built upon him, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, so as to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Because of this, Scripture asserts: “Behold, I am setting in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious. And whoever will have believed in him will not be confounded.”7 Therefore, to you who believe, he is honor. But to those who do not believe, the stone which the builders have rejected, the same has been made into the head of the corner,8 and a stone of offense, and a rock of scandal, to those who are offended by the Word; neither do they believe, though they also have been built upon him.9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you may announce the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.10 Though in past times you were not a people, yet now you are the people of God. Though you had not obtained mercy, yet now you have obtained mercy.11 Most beloved, I beg you, as new arrivals and sojourners, to abstain from carnal desires, which battle against the soul.12 Keep your behavior among the Gentiles to what is good, so that, when they slander you as if you were evildoers, they may, by the good works that are seen in you, glorify God on the day of visitation.13 Therefore, be subject to every human creature because of God, whether it is to the king as preeminent,14 or to leaders as having been sent from him for vindication over evildoers, it is truly for the praise of what is good.15 For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may bring about the silence of imprudent and ignorant men,16 in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God.17 Honor everyone. Love brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and meek, but also to the unruly.19 For this is grace: when, because of God, a man willingly endures sorrows, suffering injustice.20 For what glory is there, if you sin and then suffer a beating? But if you do well and suffer patiently, this is grace with God.21 For you have been called to this because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in his footsteps.22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.23 And when evil was spoken against him, he did not speak evil. When he suffered, he did not threaten. Then he handed himself over to him who judged him unjustly.24 He himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, so that we, having died to sin, would live for justice. By his wounds, you have been healed.25 For you were like wandering sheep. But now you have been turned back toward the Pastor and the Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 2

1 So get rid oft all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.2 Andt yearnt like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk,t so that by it you may grow up tot salvation,s

3 if you have experiencedtthe Lord’s kindness.s

A Living Stone, a Chosen People

4 So as you come to him,t a living stone rejected by men butt chosen and pricelesst in God’s sight,5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offert spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 For it sayst in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone,tand whoever believestin himtwill nevertbe put to shame.”s7 So you who believe seet his value,t but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become thetcornerstone,s8 and a stumbling-stonetand a rock to trip over.s They stumblet because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.t9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtuess of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Yout once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy,s but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

12 and maintain good conductt among the non-Christians,t so that thought they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.t

Submission to Authorities

13 Be subject to every human institutiont for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme14 or to governors as those he commissionst to punish wrongdoers and praiset those who do good.15 For God wants yout to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.16 Livet as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.ts

17 Honor all people, love the family of believers,t fear God, honor the king.
18 Slaves,t be subjectt to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.19 For this finds God’s favor,t if because of conscience toward Godst someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.t21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.22 Hetcommitted no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.s23 When he was maligned, het did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatenedt no retaliation,s but committed himself to Godt who judges justly.24 Hethimself bore our sinss in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinningt and live for righteousness. By histwoundstyou were healed.s

25 For you were going astray like sheeps but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.