As Newborn Babes

1Therefore, rid yourselves of all [a]malice and all deceit and [b]hypocrisy and [c]envy and all [d]slander, 2and like newborn babies, long for the [e]pure [f]milk of the word, so that by it you may grow [g]in respect to salvation, 3if you have tasted [h]the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is [i]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, [j]are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For this is contained in [k]Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE,

AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN [l]HIM WILL NOT BE [m]PUT TO SHAME.” 7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

“A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

THIS BECAME THE [n]CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” 8and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed.

9But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, 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 foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may [o]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of [p]visitation.

Honor Authority

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14or to governors as sent [q]by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15For [r]such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16Act as free people, and [s]do not use your freedom as a [t]covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. 17Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the [u]king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are [v]harsh. 19For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures [w]grief when suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example