As Newborn Babes

1 Therefore, aputting aside all 1malice and all deceit and 2hypocrisy and 2envy and all 2bslander,

2 alike newborn babies, long for the 1bpure 2milk of the word, so that by it you may cgrow 3in respect to salvation,

3 if you have atasted 1bthe kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been arejected by men, but is 1choice and precious in the sight of God,

5 ayou also, as living stones, 1are being built up as a bspiritual house for a holy cpriesthood, to doffer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For this is contained in 1Scripture:

“aBehold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a bprecious corner stone,

And he who believes in 2Him will not be 3disappointed.”

7 aThis precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“bThe stone which the builders crejected,

This became the very corner stone,”

8 and,

“aA stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

bfor they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, cand to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are aa chosen race, a royal bpriesthood, a choly nation, da people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you eout of darkness into His marvelous light;