1 Peter 2

1Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions,

1So putting away all wrongdoing, and all tricks and deceits and envies and evil talk,

2As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

2Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;

3If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

3If you have had a taste of the grace of the Lord:

4Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honourable by God:

4To whom you come, as to a living stone, not honoured by men, but of great and special value to God;

5Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

5You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

6Wherefore 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.

6Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

7To 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:

7And the value is for you who have faith; but it is said for those without faith, The very stone which the builders put on one side, was made the chief stone of the building;

8And a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.

8And, A stone of falling, a rock of trouble; the word is the cause of their fall, because they go against it, and this was the purpose of God.

9But 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:

9But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.

10Who in times past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy: but now have obtained mercy.

10In the past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; then there was no mercy for you, but now mercy has been given to you.

11Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,

11My loved ones, I make this request with all my heart, that, as those for whom this world is a strange country, you will keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh which make war against the soul;

12Having 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.

12Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.

13Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling,

13Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

14Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good.

14And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.

15For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

15Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:

16As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.

16As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;

17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

17Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward.

18Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.

19For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

19For it is a sign of grace if a man, desiring to do right in the eyes of God, undergoes pain as punishment for something which he has not done.

20For 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.

20What credit is it if, when you have done evil, you take your punishment quietly? but if you are given punishment for doing right, and take it quietly, this is pleasing to God.

21For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.

21This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps:

22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

22Who did no evil, and there was no deceit in his mouth:

23Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not, but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.

23To sharp words he gave no sharp answer; when he was undergoing pain, no angry word came from his lips; but he put himself into the hands of the judge of righteousness:

24Who 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.

24He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.

25For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

25Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.