1 Peter 2

1 So get rid of every kind of evil. Stop telling lies. Don't pretend to be something you are not. Stop wanting what others have. Don't speak against each other.
2 Like babies that were just born, you should long for the pure milk of God's word. It will help you grow up as believers.3 You can do it now that you have tasted how good the Lord is.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 Christ is the living Stone. People did not accept him. But God chose him. God places the highest value on him.
5 You also are like living stones. As you come to him you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done.

6 In Scripture it says,
"Look! I am placing a stone in Zion.
It is a chosen and very valuable stone.
It is the most important stone in the building.
The one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame." (Isaiah 28:16)

7 The stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe,
"The stone the builders did not accept
has become the most important stone of all." (Psalm 118:22)

8 And,
"It is a stone that causes people to trip.
It is a rock that makes them fall." (Isaiah 8:14)
They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.
9 But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are a people who belong to God. All of this is so that you can sing his praises. He brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.10 Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, you are outsiders and strangers in this world. So I'm asking you not to give in to your sinful longings. They fight against your soul.12 People who don't believe might say you are doing wrong. But lead good lives among them. Then they will see your good works. And they will give glory to God on the day he comes to judge.

Obey Your Rulers and Masters

13 Follow the lead of every human authority. Do it because the Lord wants you to. Obey the king. He is the highest authority.14 Obey the governors. The king sends them to punish those who do wrong. He also sends them to praise those who do right.15 By doing good you will put a stop to the talk of foolish people. They don't know what they are saying. God wants you to stop them.
16 Live like free people. But don't use your freedom to cover up evil. Live like people who serve God.17 Show proper respect to everyone. Love the community of believers. Have respect for God. Honor the king.
18 Slaves, obey your masters with all the respect you should give them. Obey not only those who are good and kind. Obey also those who are not kind.19 Suppose a person suffers pain unfairly because he wants to obey God. That is worthy of praise.20 But suppose you receive a beating for doing wrong, and you put up with it. Will anyone honor you for that? Of course not. But suppose you suffer for doing good, and you put up with it. God will praise you for that.
21 Christ suffered for you. He left you an example. He expects you to follow in his steps. You too were chosen to suffer.

22 Scripture says,
"He didn't commit any sin.
No lies ever came out of his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9)

23 People shouted at him and made fun of him. But he didn't do the same back to them. He suffered. But he didn't say that bad things would happen to them. Instead, he trusted in the One who judges fairly.
24 He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. His wounds have made you whole.
25 You were like sheep who were wandering away. But now you have returned to the Shepherd. He is the Leader of your souls.

1 Peter 2

1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,2 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;3 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

7 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

8 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.25 For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.