• 1. Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings,
  • 2. as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,
  • 3. if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] good.
  • 4. To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious,
  • 5. yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
  • 6. Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.
  • 7. To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner,
  • 8. and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed.
  • 9. But *ye* [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;
  • 10. who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.
  • 11. Beloved, I exhort [you], as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
  • 12. having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify God in [the] day of visitation.
  • 13. Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,
  • 14. or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.
  • 15. Because so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;
  • 16. as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.
  • 17. Shew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.
  • 18. Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered.
  • 19. For this [is] acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.
  • 20. For what glory [is it], if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear [it]? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear [it], this is acceptable with God.
  • 21. For to this have ye been called; for Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow in his steps:
  • 22. who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;
  • 23. who, [when] reviled, reviled not again; [when] suffering, threatened not; but gave [himself] over into the hands of him who judges righteously;
  • 24. who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, in order that, being dead to sins, we may live to righteousness: by whose stripes ye have been healed.
  • 25. For ye were going astray as sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.