Chapter 2
1 Putting away therefore all wickedness , all deceit , hypocrisies , envies , and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babies , long for the pure spiritual milk , that with it you may grow,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious .
4 Come 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 , " or "ἰδοὺ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious . He who believes in him will not be disappointed ."
7 For you who believe therefore is the honor , but for those who are disobedient, " The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone ,"
8 and , " a stumbling stone and a rock of offense ." For they stumble at the word , being disobedient, to which also they were appointed .
9 But you are a chosen race , a royal priesthood , a holy nation , a people for God ’s own possession , that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light .
10 In the past , you were not a people , but now are God ’s people , who had not obtained mercy , but now have obtained mercy .
11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul ,
12 having good behavior among the nations , so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers , they may see your good works and 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 evildoers and for praise to those who do well .
15 For this is the will of God , that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men .
16 Live as free people , yet 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 respect , 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 you were called to this , because Christ also suffered for us , leaving you an example , that you should follow his steps ,
22 who didn’ t sin, " neither was deceit found in his mouth ."
23 When he was cursed, he didn’ t curse back. When he suffered , he didn’ t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously .
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree , that we , having died to sins, might live to righteousness . You were healed by his wounds .
25 For you were going astray like sheep ; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls .