1 Peter 2

1 Laying aside therefore all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all slander,

So give up all the evil things that you do: all your dishonesty, hypocrisy, and jealousy, all the ways you speak badly about others.

2 as new-born babes, desire the spiritual, pure milk, that ye may grow thereby to salvation;

You should become like newborn babies who only want pure spiritual milk, so you can grow in salvation

3 if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

now you've tasted how good the Lord really is.

4 To whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but in the sight of God chosen, honored,

As you come to him—the living stone that people rejected as useless, but is chosen by God and precious to him—

5 be ye yourselves also, as living stones, built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

you also become like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. You are a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices that God welcomes through Jesus Christ.

6 Because it is contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, chosen, honored; and he that believeth in him shall not be put to shame.”

As Scripture says, “See! I'm setting in Zion its main cornerstone, specially-chosen and valuable. Whoever trusts in him will not be disappointed.”

7 To you therefore who believe, is the honor; but to the disobedient, “the stone which the builders rejected, the same hath become the corner-stone,”

He is very valuable to you who do trust. But for those who don't, “The stone the builders rejected that became the main cornerstone”

8 and “a stone of stumbling, and a rock to strike against;” even to those who stumble, being disobedient to the word; to which they were also appointed.

is “The stone that trips you up and the rock that makes you fall.” People stumble over this message because they refuse to accept it—which for them is entirely predictable.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light;

In complete contrast, you are a specially-chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Consequently you can reveal the wonderful things he's done, calling you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 who once were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

In the past you were nobodies, but now you are God's people. In the past you hadn't received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I exhort you, as sojourners and strangers, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

My friends, I'm pleading with you as foreigners and strangers in this world not to give in to physical desires that are in conflict with what is spiritual.

12 having your manner of life among the gentiles honorable; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Be sure to act appropriately when you're with non-Christians, so even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see the good things you do and glorify God when he comes.

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

Obey human authority for the Lord's sake, whether it is the king as the highest authority,

14 or to governors, as being sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of those who do well.

or governors that God appoints to punish those who do evil and to commend those who do good.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

By doing what is good and right God wants you to silence the ignorant accusations of foolish people.

16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as servants of God.

Yes, you are free people! So don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but live as God's servants.

17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

Respect everyone. Show your love to the community of believers. Have reverence for God. Respect the king.

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

If you are a servant then submit to your master—not just those who are good and kind, but those who are harsh masters as well.

19 For this is acceptable, if any one on account of a sense of duty to God endureth hardships, suffering wrongfully.

For this is what grace is: to endure life's pain and unfair suffering, keeping your focus on God.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye are beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently [[it is glory]]; for this is acceptable with God.

However, there's no credit when you're punished for doing something wrong. But if you suffer for doing what is good and right, and you put up with it, then God's grace is with you.

21 For to this ye were called; because even Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps;

In fact this is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example, so you should follow in his footsteps.

22 who committed no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;

He never sinned, he never lied;

23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously;

and when he was badly treated, he didn't retaliate. When he suffered, he didn't threaten to take revenge. He simply placed himself in the hands of the one who always judges rightly.

24 who himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross, that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

He took the consequences of our sins on himself in his body on the cross, so that we could die to sin and live rightly. “By his wounds you are healed.”

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

At one time you were like sheep who had lost their way, but now you've returned to the Shepherd—the one who watches over you.