1 As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family Therefore, laying aside all 2:1 Or wickedness malice and all deceit and 2:1 Plural nouns hypocrisy and 2:1 Plural nouns envy and all 2:1 Plural nouns slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the 2:2Or unadulterated pure 2:2Or spiritual (Gr logikos) milk milk of the word, so that by it you may grow 2:2Or up to salvation in respect to salvation,
3 if you havetasted 2:3 Lit that the Lord is kind the kindness of the 2:3 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:8 Lord.
4 Andcoming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is 2:4 Or elect; lit chosen choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, 2:5Or allow yourselves to be built up, build yourselves up are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Forthisis contained in 2:6Or a scripture Scripture:“Behold, Ilay inZion a choice stone,a precious cornerstone,And he who believes upon 2:6Or it Him will not be put to shame.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,“The stone which the builders rejected,This became the chief cornerstone,”
8 and,“Astone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to thisstumblingthey were also appointed.
9 But you area chosen family,aroyalpriesthood,a holy nation,a people forGod’sown possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once werenot a people, but now you arethe people ofGod; you hadnot received mercy, but now you havereceived mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul,
12 by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may 2:12 Or as a result of because of your good works, as they observethem, glorify God in theday of 2:12 Christ’s coming again in judgment visitation.Be Subject to Authority
13 Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14 or to governors as sent 2:14 Lit through by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good.
15 For 2:15Lit so such is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 Actas free people, and 2:16Lit not having do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, butuse itas slaves of God.
17 Honor all people, love the 2:17Or brotherhood brethren, fear God, honor the 2:17Or emperor king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are 2:18 Or unreasonable crooked.
19 For thisfinds 2:19 Or grace favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if when you do good and sufferfor it, you endure, thisfindsfavor with God.Christ, Our Example
21 For to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps,
22 who did no sin,nor was any deceit found inHis mouth;
23 who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrustingHimselfto Him who judges righteously.
24 Who Himself 2:24 Or carried...up to the cross bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to 2:24 Lit sins sin, we might live to righteousness; by His 2:24 Or bruise; lit wound wounds you were healed.
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.