1: Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2: as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, 3: if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: 4: coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 5: You also, as living stones, are built up as 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 cornerstone, elect, precious: He who believes in him will not be put to shame." 7: For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone," 8: and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. 9: But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10: who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul; 12: having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13: Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14: or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. 15: For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you 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 wicked. 19: For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. 20: For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. 21: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps, 22: who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." 23: Who, when he was reviled, didn't revile back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; 24: who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. 25: For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
