1 - Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions,
2 - As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:
3 - If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.
4 - Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honourable by God:
5 - Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 - Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him shall not be confounded.
7 - To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:
8 - And a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.
9 - But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10 - Who in times past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy: but now have obtained mercy.
11 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,
12 - Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 - Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling,
14 - Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good.
15 - For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 - As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, 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, for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.
20 - For what glory is it, if, committing sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before God.
21 - For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.
22 - Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
23 - Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not, but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.
24 - Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.
25 - For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
