1 Peter 2

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

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

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

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

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

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

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

As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

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, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering 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."

For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

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,"

To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

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 of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

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 own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of 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; once you had not received 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 urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which 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.

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

13 Subject yourselves to every human institution for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

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

or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

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

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

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

Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

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

Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, 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, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.

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

For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

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.

How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before 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 to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

22 who "committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth."

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was 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 they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him 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 bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.