for you know that you have not been ransomed with anything perishable like silver or gold, from the futile way of living in which you were brought up,

and like new-born babes crave the pure spiritual milk that will make you grow up to salvation,

and build yourselves up as living stones into a spiritual house for a consecrated priesthood, so as to offer spiritual sacrifices that through Jesus Christ will be acceptable to God.

and "A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip them up." They stumble over the message because they will not obey it; that is their destiny.

Above all keep your love for one another strong, because love covers up a host of sins.

Submit humbly, therefore, to God's mighty hand, so that he may in due time raise you up.