¹So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. ²Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. ³Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

⁴You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. ⁵You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. ⁶That is why Scripture says,

“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,

and the person who believes in him

will never be ashamed.”

⁷This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,

⁸a stone that people trip over,

a large rock that people find offensive.”

The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

⁹However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

¹¹Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⸤in the world⸥, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. ¹²Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.

Respect the Authority of Others

¹³Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. ¹⁴Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. ¹⁵God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. ¹⁶Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

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