1 Peter 2

1Therefore, having put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisies and envies and all slanders,

2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, rational milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation,

3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4As you come to him, a living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God,

5you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus the Messiah.

6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will certainly not be put to shame.”

7Therefore, for you who believe is the honor, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected—this one has become the head of the corner.”

8and, “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, and to this they were also appointed.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10you who once were not a people, but now are God's people; you who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy.

11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires, which wage war against the soul.

12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that, in what they slander you as evildoers, by observing your good works they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

13Submit yourselves to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as one in authority,

14or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good.

15For this is the will of God: that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish people.

16as free people, and not using freedom as a cover for evil, but as servants of God.

17Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

18Household servants, submitting yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the crooked.

19For this is grace: if someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because of consciousness of God.

20For what credit is it if, when you are sinning and being beaten, you endure? But if, when you are doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace before God.

21For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps.

22who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.

23who, when he was insulted, did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but kept entrusting himself to the one who judges justly.

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live to righteousness. By his wound you were healed.

25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.