2 So you must refuse to do any evil things. Do not tell lies to deceive people. Do not be hypocrites. Do not be jealous of other people. Do not say bad things against other people. 2 Instead, you should want to learn about God more and more. New babies always want their mothers' milk, which makes them grow strong. God's true message is like good food that will make you strong in your spirits. Then you will continue to grow as believers so that God saves you. 3 Do this, because you have already begun to know how kind the Lord is to you.
4 So come to the Lord Jesus. He is like a big stone that a builder uses to build a house. But he is alive. People decided that he was not important. So they refused him. But God had chosen him. To God, Jesus is very valuable. 5 You yourselves are also like stones that are alive. God is using you, like stones, to build a house where his Spirit lives. You will serve him like his special priests who offer sacrifices to him. God will be happy with the spiritual offerings that you give to him, because you belong to Jesus Christ. [ a ]
6 In the Bible, God says this:
‘Look, I have chosen a stone that is very valuable.
I have chosen this stone as the most important stone,
for the corner of my house in Zion. [ b ]
Anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.’ [ c ]
7 This stone is very valuable to you who believe in Jesus. But the Bible says this about people who do not believe in him:
‘The builders refused to use a certain stone.
They thought that it had no value.
But now that stone has become the most important stone at the corner of the building.’ [ d ]
8 The Bible also says this:
‘This stone will cause people to fall to the ground.
It is a rock that will make them fall down.’ [ e ]
They fall down like that because they refuse to obey God's message. God already decided that this would happen to them.
9 But you are not like that. You are a special group of people that God has chosen. You serve God like priests who serve a King. You are his own holy people who belong to him. He has taken you out of the dark place of sin, and he has brought you into his great light. He has done all this so that you can tell people how great he is. 10 In past times, you were not people who knew God. But now you are God's people. In past times, God did not forgive you. But now he has been very kind to you and he has forgiven you. [ f ]
11 My friends, remember that you are really strangers in this world. You do not belong here. So I am telling you not to do the bad things that your bodies may want to do. Those bad things fight against what is good for your soul. 12 You are living among people who do not know God. So be very careful that you always live in a good way. Sometimes these people may wrongly say that you do bad things. But if you continue to live in a good way, they will see that you really do good things. As a result, on the day when God comes as judge, they will give honour to him.
13 Obey all people who have authority in this world. Obey them, because you are servants of the Lord Jesus. First of all, obey the king, who rules everyone. 14 Also obey the officers that serve the king. He has sent them to punish people who do bad things. And they praise people who do good things. 15 God wants you to do only what is good. Then silly people will not be able to say bad things against you. Those people do not really know what is true.
16 You are free people. But you are servants of God. So do not think, ‘Because I am free, I can do any bad thing that I want to do.’ 17 Respect all people. Love the believers as you would love your family. Obey God as your master. Respect the king.
18 You who are slaves must obey your masters. Always respect them. Do that to every kind of master. Obey those who are good and kind. But also obey masters who are not fair to you. 19 This makes God happy. Maybe your master will punish you when you have done nothing wrong. If you know that you are serving God, continue to be patient and brave. 20 But if you do something wrong, then your master ought to punish you. That is only fair. Even if you are brave when he is cruel to you, nobody should praise you for that. But your master may punish you even when you have done good things. Then God will be happy if you are patient and brave. 21 When God chose you to be his servants, he wanted you to be brave like that. Christ had trouble and pain on your behalf. He has shown you how you should live when trouble comes. 22 The Bible says this:
‘He never did anything that was wrong.
He never said anything that was not true.’
23 People insulted Christ, but he did not say any bad thing to answer them. People caused him to have trouble, but he never tried to hurt them in return. Instead, Christ trusted God to help him. He knew that God always judges people fairly. 24 When Christ died on the cross, he carried our sins in his own body. [ g ] He took this punishment so that sin would no longer rule over us. Instead, we can now do the right things that God wants us to do. Because people hurt Christ's body, you have now become well. [ h ] 25 Before, you were like sheep that were going the wrong way. But now you have turned round and come to Christ. He is your Shepherd, and he keeps you completely safe.
2 So then, stop doing anything to hurt others. Don’t lie anymore, and stop trying to fool people. Don’t be jealous or say bad things about others. 2 Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow up and be saved. 3 You have already tasted the goodness of the Lord.
4 The Lord Jesus is the living stone. [ a ] The people of the world decided that they did not want this stone. But he is the one God chose as one of great value. So come to him. 5 You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house. [ b ] You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ. 6 The Scriptures say,
“Look, I have chosen a cornerstone of great value,
and I put that stone in Zion.
Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” ( A )
7 So, that stone brings honor for you who believe. But for those who don’t believe he is
“the stone that the builders refused to accept,
which became the most important stone.” ( B )
8 For them he is also
“a stone that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes people fall.” ( C )
People stumble because they don’t obey what God says. This is what God planned to happen to those people.
9 But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.
10 In the past you were not a special people,
but now you are God’s people.
Once you had not received mercy,
but now God has given you his mercy. [ c ]
11 Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves. 12 People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the day he comes.
13 Be willing to serve the people who have authority [ d ] in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, the highest authority. 14 And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good. 15 When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what God wants. 16 Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God. 17 Show respect for all people. Love your brothers and sisters in God’s family. Respect God, and honor the king.
18 Slaves, be willing to serve your masters. Do this with all respect. You should obey the masters who are good and kind, and you should obey the masters who are bad. 19 One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God. 20 But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God. 21 This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did:
22 “He never sinned,
and he never told a lie.” ( D )
23 People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. 25 You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives.
2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore 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.
7 Unto 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,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But 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;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having 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.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For 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.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us 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, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who 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.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
2 Therefore, ( A ) rid yourselves of all [ a ] malice and all deceit and [ b ] hypocrisy and [ c ] envy and all [ d ] ( B ) slander, 2 ( C ) and like newborn babies, long for the [ e ] ( D ) pure [ f ] milk of the word, so that by it you may ( E ) grow [ g ] in respect to salvation, 3 if you have ( F ) tasted [ h ] ( G ) the kindness of the Lord.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ( H ) rejected by people, but is [ i ] choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 ( I ) you also, as living stones, [ j ] are being built up as a ( J ) spiritual house for a holy ( K ) priesthood, to ( L ) offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [ k ] Scripture:
“ ( M ) Behold , I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a ( N ) precious cornerstone ,
And the one who believes in [ l ] Him will not be [ m ] put to shame .”
7 ( O ) This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,
8 and,
“ ( R ) A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense ”;
( S ) for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ( T ) and to this they were also appointed.
9 But you are ( U ) a chosen people, a royal ( V ) priesthood, a ( W ) holy nation , ( X ) a people for G od’s own possession , so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ( Y ) out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 ( Z ) for you once were not a people , but now you are the people of God ; you had not received mercy , but now you have received mercy .
11 ( AA ) Beloved, ( AB ) I urge you as ( AC ) foreigners and strangers to abstain from ( AD ) fleshly lusts, which wage ( AE ) war against the soul. 12 ( AF ) Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ( AG ) slander you as evildoers, they may [ o ] because of your good deeds, as they observe them , ( AH ) glorify God ( AI ) on the day of [ p ] visitation.
13 ( AJ ) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent [ q ] by him ( AK ) for the punishment of evildoers and the ( AL ) praise of those who do right. 15 For [ r ] ( AM ) such is the will of God, that by doing right you ( AN ) silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Act as ( AO ) free people, and [ s ] do not use your freedom as a [ t ] covering for evil, but use it as ( AP ) bond-servants of God. 17 ( AQ ) Honor all people, ( AR ) love the brotherhood, ( AS ) fear God, ( AT ) honor the [ u ] king.
18 ( AU ) Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ( AV ) gentle, but also to those who are [ v ] harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of ( AW ) conscience toward God a person endures [ w ] grief when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ( AX ) when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
21 For ( AY ) you have been called for this purpose, ( AZ ) because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ( BA ) an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 H e who ( BB ) committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth ; 23 [ x ] and while being ( BC ) abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [ y ] ( BD ) brought our sins in His body up on the [ z ] ( BE ) cross, so that we ( BF ) might die to [ aa ] sin and live for righteousness; ( BG ) by His [ ab ] wounds you were ( BH ) healed. 25 For you were ( BI ) continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ( BJ ) Shepherd and [ ac ] Guardian of your souls.
2 Therefore, rid yourselves ( A ) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander ( B ) of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, ( C ) so that by it you may grow up ( D ) in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. ( E )
4 As you come to him, the living Stone ( F ) —rejected by humans but chosen by God ( G ) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built ( H ) into a spiritual house [ a ] ( I ) to be a holy priesthood, ( J ) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ( K ) 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone, ( L )
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.” [ b ] ( M )
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ( N )
8 and,
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. ( R )
9 But you are a chosen people, ( S ) a royal priesthood, ( T ) a holy nation, ( U ) God’s special possession, ( V ) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ( W ) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; ( X ) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, ( Y ) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, ( Z ) to abstain from sinful desires, ( AA ) which wage war against your soul. ( AB ) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds ( AC ) and glorify God ( AD ) on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: ( AE ) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong ( AF ) and to commend those who do right. ( AG ) 15 For it is God’s will ( AH ) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ( AI ) 16 Live as free people, ( AJ ) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; ( AK ) live as God’s slaves. ( AL ) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, ( AM ) fear God, honor the emperor. ( AN )
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, ( AO ) not only to those who are good and considerate, ( AP ) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ( AQ ) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ( AR ) 21 To this ( AS ) you were called, ( AT ) because Christ suffered for you, ( AU ) leaving you an example, ( AV ) that you should follow in his steps.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, ( AY ) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. ( AZ ) Instead, he entrusted himself ( BA ) to him who judges justly. ( BB ) 24 “He himself bore our sins” ( BC ) in his body on the cross, ( BD ) so that we might die to sins ( BE ) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ( BF ) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” [ f ] ( BG ) but now you have returned to the Shepherd ( BH ) and Overseer of your souls. ( BI )
