1 - Having put aside, then, all evil, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil speakings,
2 - as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,
3 - if so be ye did taste that the Lord <FI>is<Fi> gracious,
4 - to whom coming--a living stone--by men, indeed, having been disapproved of, but with God choice, precious,
5 - and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 - Wherefore, also, it is contained in the Writing: `Lo, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, choice, precious, and he who is believing on him may not be put to shame;'
7 - to you, then, who are believing <FI>is<Fi> the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a corner,
8 - and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence--who are stumbling at the word, being unbelieving, --to which also they were set;
9 - and ye <FI>are<Fi> a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light;
10 - who <FI>were<Fi> once not a people, and <FI>are<Fi> now the people of God; who had not found kindness, and now have found kindness.
11 - Beloved, I call upon <FI>you<Fi> , as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires, that war against the soul,
12 - having your behaviour among the nations right, that in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, of the good works having beheld, they may glorify God in a day of inspection.
13 - Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,
14 - whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;
15 - because, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;
16 - as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;
17 - to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.
18 - The domestics! be subjecting yourselves in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the cross;
19 - for this <FI>is<Fi> gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;
20 - for what renown <FI>is it<Fi> , if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure <FI>it<Fi> ? but if, doing good and suffering <FI>for it<Fi> , ye do endure, this <FI>is<Fi> gracious with God,
21 - for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
22 - who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth,
23 - who being reviled--was not reviling again, suffering--was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously,
24 - who our sins himself did bear in his body, upon the tree, that to the sins having died, to the righteousness we may live; by whose stripes ye were healed,
25 - for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
