2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, |
2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, |
2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. |
2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, |
2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. |
2:6 For {this} is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER {stone,} AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." |
2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER {stone,}" |
2:8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this {doom} they were also appointed." |
2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; |
2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. |
2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. |
2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe {them,} glorify God in the day of visitation. |
2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, |
2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. |
2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. |
2:16 {Act} as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but {use it} as bondslaves of God. |
2:17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. |
2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. |
2:19 For this {finds} favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. |
2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer {for it} you patiently endure it, this {finds} favor with God. |
2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, |
2:22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; |
2:23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting {Himself} to Him who judges righteously; |
2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. |
2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. |