4. unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,
5. ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6. Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
7. For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
8. and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9. But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {cf15i God's} own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10. who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12. having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13. Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14. or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
15. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16. as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18. Servants, {cf15i be} in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19. For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.
20. For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted {cf15i for it}, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer {cf15i for it}, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21. For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22. who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23. who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed {cf15i himself} to him that judgeth righteously:
24. who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
25. For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.