2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
2:3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him–
2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,”
2:8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.
2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
2:10 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.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
2:14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
2:17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
2:1 Therefore putting away all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation,
2:3 If you have tasted that the Lord is good.
2:4 Coming to Him, a living stone, rejected by men but with God chosen and precious,
2:5 You yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For it is contained in Scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious; and he who believes on Him shall by no means be put to shame.
2:7 To you therefore who believe is the preciousness; but to the unbelieving, The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner,
2:8 And, A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense ; who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possession, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
2:10 Who once were not a people but now are the people of God; who had not previously been shown mercy but have now been shown mercy.
2:11 Beloved, I entreat you as strangers and sojourners to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,
2:12 Having your manner of life excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the matter concerning which they speak against you as evildoers they may, by your good works, as they see them with their own eyes, glorify God in the day of His visitation.
2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord s sake, whether to a king as being supreme,
2:14 Or to governors as being sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and praise of those who do good.
2:15 For so is the will of God, that by doing good you would muzzle the ignorance of foolish men;
2:16 As free, and yet not having freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.
2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
2:18 Household servants, be subject in all fear to your masters, not only to the good and forbearing but also to the crooked.
2:19 For this is grace, if anyone, because of a consciousness of God, bears sorrows by suffering unjustly.
2:20 For what glory is it if, while sinning and being buffeted, you endure? But if, while doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace with God.
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you a model so that you may follow in His steps;
2:22 Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth;
2:23 Who being reviled did not revile in return; suffering, He did not threaten but kept committing all to Him who judges righteously;
2:24 Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.