# 1 Peter 2 <a id="1" name="1"></a> 1. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. <a id="2" name="2"></a> 2. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—<a id="3" name="3"></a> 3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. <a id="4" name="4"></a> 4. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, <a id="5" name="5"></a> 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. <a id="6" name="6"></a> 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.” <a id="7" name="7"></a> 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,” <a id="8" name="8"></a> 8. and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. <a id="9" name="9"></a> 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. <a id="10" name="10"></a> 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. <a id="11" name="11"></a> 11. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. <a id="12" name="12"></a> 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. <a id="13" name="13"></a> 13. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, <a id="14" name="14"></a> 14. or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. <a id="15" name="15"></a> 15. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. <a id="16" name="16"></a> 16. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. <a id="17" name="17"></a> 17. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. <a id="18" name="18"></a> 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. <a id="19" name="19"></a> 19. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. <a id="20" name="20"></a> 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. <a id="21" name="21"></a> 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. <a id="22" name="22"></a> 22. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. <a id="23" name="23"></a> 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. <a id="24" name="24"></a> 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. <a id="25" name="25"></a> 25. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (ESV)