The Living Stone and a Chosen People

1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built2.5 Or you yourselves are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in scripture:

‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him2.6 Or it will not be put to shame.’

7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the very head of the corner’,

8and

‘A stone that makes them stumble,

and a rock that makes them fall.’

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people,2.9 Gk a people for his possession in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

10Once you were not a people,

but now you are God's people;

once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.

Live as Servants of God

11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.2.12 Gk God on the day of visitation

13For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution,2.13 Or every institution ordained for human beings whether of the emperor as supreme, 14or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16As servants2.16 Gk slaves of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. 17Honour everyone. Love the family of believers.2.17 Gk Love the brotherhood Fear God. Honour the emperor.

The Example of Christ's Suffering

18Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. 19For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

22‘He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.’

23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,2.24 Or carried up our sins in his body to the tree so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds2.24 Gk bruise you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.