1Having put aside, then, all evil, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil words,

2as newborn babes, desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, in order that you grow by it,

3if indeed you have tasted that the Master is good.

4Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious –

5you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.

6Because it is contained in the Scripture, “See, I lay in Tsiyon a chief corner-stone, chosen, precious, and he who believes on Him shall by no means be put to shame.”a

7This preciousness, then, is for you who believe; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone,”a

8and “A stone of stumbling and a rock that makes for falling,”a who stumble because they are disobedientb to the Word, to which they also were appointed.

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light,

10who once were not a people, but now the people of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion.

11Beloved ones, I appeal to you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which battle against the life,

12having your behaviour among the gentiles good so that when they speak against you as evil-doers, let them, by observing your good works,a esteem Elohim in a day of visitation.

13Be subject to every institution of man because of the Master, whether to the sovereign as supreme,

14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of doers of evil, and a praise for those who do good.

15Because such is the desire of Elohim, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,

16as free, yet not using your freedom as a cloak for evil, but as servants of Elohim.

17Respect all, love the brotherhood, fear Elohim, respect the sovereign.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked ones.

19For this is favour, if because of conscience toward Elohim anyone bears up under grief, suffering unrighteously.

20For what credit is there in enduring a beating when you sin? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure, this finds favour with Elohim.

21For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps,a

22“who committed no sin,a nor was deceit found in His mouth,”b

23who, being reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

24who Himself bore our sins in His body on the timber, so that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousnessa – by whose stripes you were healed.

25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your lives.