1Peter - Chapter 2 | English Standard Version

  • 1. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
  • 2. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation--
  • 3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
  • 4. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
  • 5. you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
  • 6. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
  • 7. So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
  • 8. and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
  • 9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  • 10. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
  • 11. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
  • 12. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
  • 13. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
  • 14. or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
  • 15. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
  • 16. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
  • 17. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
  • 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
  • 19. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
  • 20. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
  • 21. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
  • 22. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
  • 23. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
  • 24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
  • 25. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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