Therefore, aputting
aside
all
1malice
and all
deceit
and 2hypocrisy
and 2envy
and all
2 bslander
,
alike newborn
babies
, long
for the 1 bpure
2milk
of the word
, so
that by it you may cgrow
3in respect
to salvation
,
if you have atasted
1 bthe kindness
of the Lord
.
And coming to Him as to a living
stone
which has been arejected
by men
, but is 1choice
and precious
in the sight
of God
,
ayou also, as living
stones
, 1are being built
up as a bspiritual
house
for a holy
cpriesthood
, to doffer
up spiritual
sacrifices
acceptable
to God
through
Jesus
Christ
.
For this is contained in 1Scripture
: " aBEHOLD
, I LAY
IN ZION
A CHOICE
STONE
, A bPRECIOUS
CORNER
stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES
IN 2HIM WILL NOT BE 3DISAPPOINTED
."
aThis precious
value
, then
, is for you who believe
; but for those
who disbelieve
, " bTHE STONE
WHICH
THE BUILDERS
cREJECTED
, THIS
BECAME
THE VERY
CORNER
stone,"
and, " aA STONE OF STUMBLING
AND A ROCK
OF OFFENSE
"; bfor they stumble
because they are disobedient
to the word
, cand to this
doom they were also
appointed
.
But you are aA CHOSEN RACE
, A royal
bPRIESTHOOD
, A cHOLY
NATION
, dA PEOPLE
FOR God's OWN POSSESSION
, so
that you may proclaim
the excellencies
of Him who has called
you eout of darkness
into His marvelous
light
;
afor 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
.
aBeloved, bI urge
you as caliens
and strangers
to abstain
from dfleshly
lusts
which
wage
ewar
against
the soul
.
aKeep your behavior
excellent
among
the Gentiles
, so
that in the thing in which
they bslander
you as evildoers
, they may 1because
of your good
deeds
, as they observe
them, cglorify
God
din the day
of 2visitation
.
aSubmit yourselves for the Lord's
sake
to every
human
institution
, whether
to a king
as the one in authority
,
or to governors
as sent
1by him afor the punishment
of evildoers
and the bpraise
of those who do
right
.
For 1 asuch is the will
of God
that by doing
right
you may bsilence
the ignorance
of foolish
men
.
Act as afree men
, and 1do not use
your freedom
as a covering
for evil
, but use it as bbondslaves
of God
.
aHonor all
people
, blove
the brotherhood
, cfear
God
, dhonor
the 1king
.
aServants, be submissive
to your masters
with all
respect
, not only
to those
who are good
and bgentle
, but also
to those
who are 1unreasonable
.
For this finds 1favor
, if
for the sake
of aconscience
toward God
a person
bears
up under
sorrows
when suffering
unjustly
.
For what credit
is there if
, when you sin
and are harshly
treated
, you endure
it with patience
? But if
awhen you do
what is right
and suffer
for it you patiently
endure
it, this
finds 1favor
with God
.
For ayou have been called for this
purpose, bsince
Christ
also
suffered
for you, leaving
you can example
for you to follow
in His steps
,
WHO aCOMMITTED
NO
SIN
, NOR
WAS ANY DECEIT
FOUND
IN HIS MOUTH
;
1and while being areviled, He did not revile
in return
; while suffering
, He uttered
no
threats
, but kept entrusting
Himself to Him who judges
righteously
;
and He Himself 1 abore
our sins
in His body
on the 2 bcross
, so
that we cmight die
to 3sin
and live
to righteousness
; for dby His 4wounds
you were ehealed
.
For you were acontinually straying like
sheep
, but now
you have returned
to the bShepherd
and 1Guardian
of your souls
.