| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, | 1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, |
| 2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, | 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: |
| 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. | 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. |
| 4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, | 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, |
| 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. |
| 6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” | 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. |
| 7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” | 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, |
| 8and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. | 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. |
| 9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; | 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: |
| 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. | 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. |
| 11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, | 11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; |
| 12having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. | 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. |
| 13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, | 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; |
| 14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. | 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. |
| 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— | 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: |
| 16as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. | 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. |
| 17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. | 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. |
| 18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. | 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. |
| 19For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. | 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. |
| 20For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. | 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. |
| 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: | 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: |
| 22“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; | 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: |
| 23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; | 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: |
| 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. | 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. |
| 25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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