1 Peter 2

1 So putting away all wrongdoing, and all tricks and deceits and envies and evil talk,

Putting away, therefore, all vice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envyings and all detractions,

2 Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;

As new-born babes, for the pure milk that is for the mind, eagerly crave, that, thereby, ye may grow unto salvation: —

3 If you have had a taste of the grace of the Lord:

If ye have tasted for yourselves that, gracious, is the Lord, —

4 To whom you come, as to a living stone, not honoured by men, but of great and special value to God;

Unto whom coming near, as unto a living stone—by men, indeed, rejected, but, with God, chosen, held in honour,

5 You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well-pleasing unto God through Jesus Christ;

6 Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

Inasmuch as it is contained in scripture—Lo! I lay in Zion an outmost corner stone, chosen, held in honour, and, he that resteth faith thereupon, shall not be put to shame.

7 And the value is for you who have faith; but it is said for those without faith, The very stone which the builders put on one side, was made the chief stone of the building;

Unto you, then, is the honour—[unto you] who believe; but, unto such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, —The same, hath become head of the corner,

8 And, A stone of falling, a rock of trouble; the word is the cause of their fall, because they go against it, and this was the purpose of God.

And a stone to strike against, and a rock to stumble over: Who stumble because, unto the word, they do not yield, —unto which also they have been appointed;

9 But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.

But, ye, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a peculiar treasure, that, the excellences, ye may tell forth, of him who, out of darkness, hath called you into his marvellous light: —

10 In the past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; then there was no mercy for you, but now mercy has been given to you.

Who, at one time, were a No-people, but, now, are a people of God, —who had not been enjoying mercy, but, now, have received mercy.

11 My loved ones, I make this request with all my heart, that, as those for whom this world is a strange country, you will keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh which make war against the soul;

Beloved! I exhort you, as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly covetings, such as take the field against the soul;

12 Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.

Having, your behaviour among the nations, honourable, —in order that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, owing to the honourable works they are permitted to behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

Submit yourselves unto every human creation, for the Lord’s sake, —whether unto a king, as one that protecteth,

14 And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.

Or unto governors, as, through him, sent—for vengeance on evil-doers, but praise to such as do good;

15 Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:

Because, so, is the will of God, —by doing good, to be putting to silence, the ignorance of heedless men:

16 As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;

As free, yet, not as a cloak of vice, holding your freedom, but, as God’s servants.

17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.

Unto all men, give honour, unto the brotherhood, shew love, unto God, give reverence, the king, hold in honour.

18 Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.

Ye domestics, submitting yourselves, in all reverence, unto your masters, —not only unto the good and considerate, but also unto the perverse;

19 For it is a sign of grace if a man, desiring to do right in the eyes of God, undergoes pain as punishment for something which he has not done.

For, this, is thankworthy, —If, for the sake of conscience towards God, one beareth griefs, suffering wrongfully, —

20 What credit is it if, when you have done evil, you take your punishment quietly? but if you are given punishment for doing right, and take it quietly, this is pleasing to God.

For what sort of honour is it—if, committing sin, and being buffeted, ye endure it? But, if, doing good, and suffering, ye endure it, this, is thankworthy with God.

21 This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps:

For, hereunto, have ye been called; because, Christ also, suffered in your behalf, unto you, leaving behind a pattern, that ye might follow in his steps:

22 Who did no evil, and there was no deceit in his mouth:

Who did not, a sin, commit, neither was deceit found in his mouth, —

23 To sharp words he gave no sharp answer; when he was undergoing pain, no angry word came from his lips; but he put himself into the hands of the judge of righteousness:

Who, being reviled, was not reviling again, suffering, he was not threatening, but was making surrender unto him that judgeth righteously, —

24 He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.

Who, our sins, himself, bare up, in his body, unto the tree, in order that we, from our sins getting away, in righteousness, might live, —by whose stripes, ye have been healed;

25 Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.

For ye were as sheep going astray, but have now turned back unto the shepherd and overseer of your souls.