2:1 So get rid of 1 all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And 2 yearn 3 like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, 4 so that by it you may grow up to 5 salvation, 6 2:3 if you have experienced 7 the Lord’s kindness. 8
2:4 So as you come to him, 9 a living stone rejected by men but 10 chosen and priceless 11 in God’s sight, 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer 12 spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it says 13 in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, 14 and whoever believes 15 in him 16 will never 17 be put to shame.” 18 2:7 So you who believe see 19 his value, 20 but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the 21 cornerstone, 22 2:8 and a stumbling-stone 23 and a rock to trip over. 24 They stumble 25 because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 26 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues 27 of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You 28 once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, 29 but now you have received mercy.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct 30 among the non-Christians, 31 so that though 32 they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. 33
2:13 Be subject to every human institution 34 for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions 35 to punish wrongdoers and praise 36 those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you 37 to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 2:16 Live 38 as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. 39 2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, 40 fear God, honor the king.
2:18 Slaves, 41 be subject 42 to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 2:19 For this finds God’s favor, 43 if because of conscience toward God 44 someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. 45 2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He 46 committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 47 2:23 When he was maligned, he 48 did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened 49 no retaliation, 50 but committed himself to God 51 who judges justly.