1 Peter 2

1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envy, and all slander,

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

2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby to salvation,

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

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good:

if you have tasted that the Lord is kind.

4 coming to him, a living stone, though rejected by people but chosen by God, precious.

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 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.

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 Because it is contained in Scripture, "Look, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen precious cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

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

7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who do not believe, "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,"

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 to stumble over, and a rock to trip over." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

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 race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous 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 once were not a people, but now are God's people, 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 Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents, to abstain from fleshly lusts, 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 good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, 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 Subject yourselves to every human institution for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

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

14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

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

15 For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people:

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

16 as free, and not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God.

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

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

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

18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

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 it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

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

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 to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, 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 "committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth."

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

23 Who, when he was cursed, did not curse back. When he suffered, did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

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 on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose wounds 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 going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer 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.