彼得前書 2

活石和聖潔的國度

1 所以，你們要除去一切的惡毒，一切詭詐、假善、嫉妒，和一切毀謗的話。 2 要愛慕那純淨的靈奶，像初生的嬰孩愛慕奶一樣，好使你們藉著它成長，以致得救， 3 因為你們已經嘗過主恩的滋味。

4 要親近主，他是活石，雖然被人所丟棄，卻是上帝所揀選、所珍貴的。 5 你們作為活石，要被建造成屬靈的殿，成為聖潔的祭司，藉著耶穌基督獻上蒙上帝悅納的屬靈祭物。 6 因為經上說： 「看哪，我把一塊石頭放在錫安— 一塊蒙揀選、珍貴的房角石； 信靠他的人必不蒙羞。」

7 所以，這石頭在你們信的人是珍貴的；在那不信的人卻有話說： 「匠人所丟棄的石頭 已作了房角的頭塊石頭。」

8 又說： 「作了絆腳的石頭， 使人跌倒的磐石。」 他們絆跌，因為不順從這道，這也是預定的。

9 不過，你們是被揀選的一族，是君尊的祭司，是神聖的國度，是屬上帝的子民，要使你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。

10 「你們從前不是子民， 現在卻成了上帝的子民； 從前未曾蒙憐憫， 現在卻蒙了憐憫。」

作上帝的僕人

11 親愛的，你們是客旅，是寄居的，我勸你們要禁戒肉體的情慾；這情慾是與靈魂爭戰的。 12 你們在外邦人中要品行端正，好讓那些人，雖然毀謗你們是作惡的，會因看見你們的好行為而在鑒察t的日子歸榮耀給上帝。

13 你們為主的緣故要順服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王， 14 或是君王所派懲惡賞善的官員。 15 因為上帝的旨意原是要你們以行善來堵住糊塗無知人的口。 16 雖然你們是自由的，卻不可藉著自由遮蓋惡毒，總要作上帝的僕人。 17 務要尊重眾人；要敬愛教中的弟兄姊妹；要敬畏上帝；要尊敬君王。

基督受苦的榜樣

18 你們作奴僕的，凡事要存敬畏的心順服主人；不但順服善良溫和的，就是乖僻的也要順服。 19 倘若你們為使良心對得起上帝，忍受冤屈的痛苦，這是可讚許的。 20 你們若因犯罪受責打而忍耐，有甚麼可稱讚的呢？但你們若因行善受苦而忍耐，這在上帝看來是可讚許的。 21 你們蒙召就是為此，因為基督也為你們受過苦，給你們留下榜樣，為要使你們跟隨他的腳蹤。

22 「他並沒有犯罪， 口裏也沒有詭詐。」

23 他被辱罵不還口，受害也不說威嚇的話，只將自己交託給公義的審判者。 24 他被掛在木頭上，親身擔當了我們的罪，使我們既然在罪上死，就得以在義上活。因他受的鞭傷，你們得了醫治。 25 你們從前好像迷路的羊，如今卻歸回你們靈魂的牧人和監督了。

1 PETER 2

A Living Stone and //a Holy Nation

1 Stop being hateful! Quit trying to fool people, and start being sincere. Don't be jealous or say cruel things about others. 2 Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved.

3 t You have already found out how good the Lord really is.
4 Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored. 5 And now you are living stones being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God.

6 t It is just as God says in the Scriptures,
“Look! I am placing in Zion
a choice and precious
cornerstone.
No one who has faith
in this one
will be disappointed.”
7  t You are followers of the Lord, and this stone is precious to you. But it isn't precious to those who refuse to follow him. They are the builders who tossed aside the stone that turned out to be the most important one of all.

8 t They disobeyed the message and stumbled and fell over this stone, because they were doomed.

9  t But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things he has done. The Scriptures say,

10  t “Once you were nobody.
Now you are God's people.
At one time no one
had mercy on you.
Now God has treated you
with kindness.”

Live as God's Servants Should

11 Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you.

12 Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
13 The Lord wants you to obey all human authorities, especially the Emperor, who rules over everyone. 14 You must also obey governors, because they are sent by the Emperor to punish criminals and to praise good citizens. 15 God wants you to silence stupid and ignorant people by doing right. 16 You are free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong.

17 Respect everyone and show special love for God's people. Honor God and respect the Emperor.

The Example of //Christ's Suffering

18 Servants, you must obey your masters and always show respect to them. Do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are cruel. 19 God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him. 20 You don't gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good.

21 After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you.

22  t Christ did not sin
or ever tell a lie.

23  t Although he was abused,
he never tried to get even.
And when he suffered,
he made no threats.
Instead, he had faith in God,
who judges fairly.

24  t Christ carried the burden
of our sins.
He was nailed to the cross,
so we would stop sinning
and start living right.
By his cuts and bruises
you are healed.

25 You had wandered away
like sheep.
Now you have returned
to the one
who is your shepherd
and protector.