1 Peter 2:1–25

Therefore, rid yourselves^u of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander^v of every kind. ²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^w so that by it you may grow up^x in your salvation, ³now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.^y

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴As you come to him, the living Stone^z—rejected by humans but chosen by God^a and precious to him—⁵you also, like living stones, are being built^b into a spiritual house^ac to be a holy priesthood,^d offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{e 6}For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,^f

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.”^bg

⁷Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^h

“The stone the builders rejectedⁱ

has become the cornerstone,”^cj

⁸and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.”^dk

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^l

⁹But you are a chosen people,^m a royal priesthood,ⁿ a holy nation,^o God’s special possession,^p that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{q 10}Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^r once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹Dear friends,^s I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^t to abstain from sinful desires,^u which wage war against your soul.^{v 12}Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^w and glorify God^x on the day he visits us.

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:^y whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong^z and to commend those who do right.^{a 15}For it is God’s will^b that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.^{c 16}Live as free people,^d but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;^e live as God’s slaves.^{f 17}Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,^g fear God, honor the emperor.^h

¹⁸Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,ⁱ not only to those who are good and considerate,^j but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^{k 20}But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.^{l 21}To this^m you were called,ⁿ because Christ suffered for you,^o leaving you an example,^p that you should follow in his steps.

²²“He committed no sin,^q

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^er

²³When they hurled their insults at him,^s he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^t Instead, he entrusted himself^u to him who judges justly.^{v 24}“He himself bore our sins”^w in his body on the cross,^x so that we might die to sins^y and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^{z 25}For “you were like sheep going astray,”^fa but now you have returned to the Shepherd^b and Overseer of your souls.^c