1 Peter 2

1 Wherefore laying away all malice, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envies, and all detractions,

Therefore put aside all evil, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

2 As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

As newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that through it you may grow in salvation,

3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

if you have tasted that the Lord is kind.

4 Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:

Come to him who is a living stone that has been rejected by people, but that has been chosen by God as valuable to him.

5 Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

You also are like living stones that are being built up to be a spiritual house, in order to be a holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.

Scripture contains this: “See, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and valuable. Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”

7 To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

The honor then is for you who believe. But, “the stone that was rejected by the builders, this has become the head of the corner”—

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.

and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word—which is what they were appointed to do.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession, so that you would announce the wonderful actions of the one who called you out from darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You did not receive mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,

Beloved, I call on you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires, which make war against your soul.

12 Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.

You should have good behavior among the Gentiles, so that, if they speak about you as having done evil things, they may observe your good works and praise God on the day of his coming.

13 Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling;

Obey every human authority for the Lord's sake. Obey both the king as supreme,

14 Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good:

and also the governors, who are sent to punish evildoers and to praise those who do good.

15 For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

For this is God's will, that in doing good you silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

16 As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.

As free people, do not use your freedom as a covering for wickedness, but be like servants of God.

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect. Be subject not only to the good and gentle masters, but also to the malicious ones.

19 For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

For it is praiseworthy if anyone endures pain while suffering injustice because of his awareness of God.

20 For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.

For how much credit is there if you sin and then endure while being punished? But if you have done good and then you suffer while being punished, this is worthy of praise from God.

21 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.

For it is to this that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you. He left an example for you to follow in his steps.

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

“He committed no sin, neither was any deceit found in his mouth.”

23 Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.

When he was reviled, he did not revile back. When he suffered, he did not threaten back, but he gave himself to the one who judges justly.

24 Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.

He himself carried our sins in his body to the tree, so that we would have no more part in sin, and so that we would live for righteousness. By his bruises you have been healed.

25 For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

All of you had been wandering away like lost sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.