Peter (The First Epistle General of )

Then having laid aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil words,

as newborn babes desire the pure soul-nourishing milk, that you may grow by it;

if indeed you "tasted" "that the Lord is good;"

to whom having drawn near, a living Stone, indeed having been rejected by men, but chosen by God, precious;

you also as living stones are being built a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Because of this, it is also contained in the Scripture: "Behold," I lay in Zion" an elect, "precious Stone," "a Corner-foundation;" "and the one believing in Him shall never in any way be ashamed."

Then to you who believe [belongs] the preciousness. But to disobeying ones, [He is the] "Stone which those building rejected; this One became [the] Head-of-the-corner,"

and a Stone-of-stumbling, and a Rock-of-offense" to those disobeying, stumbling at the word, to which they were also appointed.

But you [are] "an elect race," "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "a people for possession," so that "you may openly speak of the virtues" of the [One] who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

[you] who then were "not a people, but now [are] the people" of God; "the one not pitied [then] but now pitied."

Beloved, I exhort [you] as [temporary] residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul;

having your behavior good among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers; by observing [your] good works, they may glorify God in a day of visitation.

Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men because of the Lord; whether to a king, as being supreme;

or to governors, as through Him having indeed been sent for vengeance [on] evildoers, but praise [on] well doers,

because so is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as slaves of God;

honor all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, [be] obedient to [your] masters in all fear, not only to those good and forbearing, but also to the perverse [ones].

For what glory [is it] if you patiently endure [while] sinning and being buffeted? But if you [are] suffering [while] doing good, and patiently endure, this [is] a grace from God.

For you were called to this, for even Christ suffered on our behalf, leaving behind an example for us, that you should follow His steps;

"who did not sin, nor was guile found in His mouth;"

who, having been reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, He did not threaten, but gave [Himself] up to Him who [was] judging righteously;

who "Himself bore in His body our sins" onto the tree; that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; of whom, "by His wound, you were healed.

For you were straying sheep," but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.