1 Peter 2:1-14 ▼

1 Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings,

2 as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,

3 if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] good.

4 To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious,

5 yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

7 To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner,

8 and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed.

9 But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;

10 who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.

11 Beloved, I exhort [you], as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify God in [the] day of visitation.

13 Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,

14 or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.