As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family

1Therefore, laying aside all [†]malice and all deceit and [†]hypocrisy and [†]envy and all [†]slander, 2like newborn babies, long for the [†]pure [†]milk of the word, so that by it you may grow [†]in respect to salvation, 3if you have TASTED [†]THE KINDNESS OF THE [†]LORD.

4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is [†]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you 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. 6For this is contained in [†]Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,

AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON [†]HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

7This 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,”

8and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.

9But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, 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; 10for 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.

11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, 12by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may [†]because of your good works, as they observe them, glorify God in the DAY OF [†]VISITATION.

Be Subject to Authority

13Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14or to governors as sent [†]by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good. 15For [†]such is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Act as free people, and [†]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as slaves of God. 17Honor all people, love the [†]brethren, fear God, honor the [†]king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are [†]crooked. 19For this finds [†]favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.

Christ, Our Example

21For to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps, 22WHO DID NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. 24Who Himself [†]bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to [†]sin, we might live to righteousness; by His [†]WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED. 25For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.