2:1 | So get rid of* all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. |
2:2 | And* yearn* like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk,* so that by it you may grow up to* salvation,* |
2:3 | if you have experienced* the Lord’s kindness.* |
2:4 | So as you come to him,* a living stone rejected by men but* chosen and priceless* in God’s sight, |
2:5 | you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer* spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. |
2:6 | For it says* in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone,* and whoever believes* in him* will never* be put to shame.”* |
2:7 | So you who believe see* his value,* but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the* cornerstone,* |
2:8 | and a stumbling-stone* and a rock to trip over.* They stumble* because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.* |
2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues* of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. |
2:10 | You* once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy,* but now you have received mercy. |
2:11 | Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, |
2:12 | and maintain good conduct* among the non-Christians,* so that though* they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.* |
2:13 | Be subject to every human institution* for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme |
2:14 | or to governors as those he commissions* to punish wrongdoers and praise* those who do good. |
2:15 | For God wants you* to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. |
2:16 | Live* as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.* |
2:17 | Honor all people, love the family of believers,* fear God, honor the king. |
2:18 | Slaves,* be subject* to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. |
2:19 | For this finds God’s favor,* if because of conscience toward God* someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. |
2:20 | For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.* |
2:21 | For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. |
2:22 | He* committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.* |
2:23 | When he was maligned, he* did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened* no retaliation,* but committed himself to God* who judges justly. |
2:24 | He* himself bore our sins* in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning* and live for righteousness. By his* wounds* you were healed.* |
2:25 | For you were going astray like sheep* but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. |