1 Laying aside therefore all malice and all deceit and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings,
2 as new born babes desire earnestly the pure milk of the word, that you may grow by it to salvation,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 To whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed by men but approved by God, elect, precious,
5 do you also yourselves be built up living stones, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ,
6 for it is said in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.
7 To you therefore who believe he is precious; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the head of a corner
8 and a stone of stumbling and rock of offense, who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should declare the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his glorious light;
10 who formerly were not a people, but now are a people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 BELOVED, I exhort you as strangers and foreigners, abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the gentiles, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, from the good works which they see they may glorify God in the day of visitation,
13 Be subject therefore to every human government, for the Lord's sake, whether to the king, as superior,
14 to governors, sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do well;
15 for this is the will of God, that by well-doing you may silence the ignorance of foolish men;
16 as free, and not using freedom for a cloak of vice, but as servants of God.
17 Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
18 Let servants be subject with all fear to masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the perverse.
19 For this deserves thanks, if on account of a knowledge of God one endures pain, suffering unjustly.
20 For what glory is it if when you sin and are punished you bear it patiently? But if you do well and suffer and bear it patiently, [this deserves thanks], for it is acceptable to God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you a copy that you should follow his steps,
22 who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth,
23 who being reviled reviled not, suffering threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously,
24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we having died to sins, may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like lost sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.