彼得前书 2

活石和圣洁的国度

1 所以，你们要除去一切的恶毒，一切诡诈、假善、嫉妒，和一切毁谤的话。 2 要爱慕那纯净的灵奶，像初生的婴孩爱慕奶一样，好使你们藉着它成长，以致得救， 3 因为你们已经尝过主恩的滋味。

4 要亲近主，他是活石，虽然被人所丢弃，却是上帝所拣选、所珍贵的。 5 你们作为活石，要被建造成属灵的殿，成为圣洁的祭司，藉着耶稣基督献上蒙上帝悦纳的属灵祭物。 6 因为经上说： “看哪，我把一块石头放在锡安— 一块蒙拣选、珍贵的房角石； 信靠他的人必不蒙羞。”

7 所以，这石头在你们信的人是珍贵的；在那不信的人却有话说： “匠人所丢弃的石头 已作了房角的头块石头。”

8 又说： “作了绊脚的石头， 使人跌倒的磐石。” 他们绊跌，因为不顺从这道，这也是预定的。

9 不过，你们是被拣选的一族，是君尊的祭司，是神圣的国度，是属上帝的子民，要使你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。

10 “你们从前不是子民， 现在却成了上帝的子民； 从前未曾蒙怜悯， 现在却蒙了怜悯。”

作上帝的仆人

11 亲爱的，你们是客旅，是寄居的，我劝你们要禁戒肉体的情欲；这情欲是与灵魂争战的。 12 你们在外邦人中要品行端正，好让那些人，虽然毁谤你们是作恶的，会因看见你们的好行为而在鉴察t的日子归荣耀给上帝。

13 你们为主的缘故要顺服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王， 14 或是君王所派惩恶赏善的官员。 15 因为上帝的旨意原是要你们以行善来堵住糊涂无知人的口。 16 虽然你们是自由的，却不可藉着自由遮盖恶毒，总要作上帝的仆人。 17 务要尊重众人；要敬爱教中的弟兄姊妹；要敬畏上帝；要尊敬君王。

基督受苦的榜样

18 你们作奴仆的，凡事要存敬畏的心顺服主人；不但顺服善良温和的，就是乖僻的也要顺服。 19 倘若你们为使良心对得起上帝，忍受冤屈的痛苦，这是可赞许的。 20 你们若因犯罪受责打而忍耐，有什么可称赞的呢？但你们若因行善受苦而忍耐，这在上帝看来是可赞许的。 21 你们蒙召就是为此，因为基督也为你们受过苦，给你们留下榜样，为要使你们跟随他的脚踪。

22 “他并没有犯罪， 口里也没有诡诈。”

23 他被辱骂不还口，受害也不说威吓的话，只将自己交托给公义的审判者。 24 他被挂在木头上，亲身担当了我们的罪，使我们既然在罪上死，就得以在义上活。因他受的鞭伤，你们得了医治。 25 你们从前好像迷路的羊，如今却归回你们灵魂的牧人和监督了。

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.