Putting away therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil-speakings,
as new-born babes long for the guileless intelligent milk that by it ye may grow unto salvation,
if indeed ye tasted that the Lord is good.
Unto whom approaching, a living stone, by men indeed rejected but with God chosen, precious,
yourselves also as living stones are being builded up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a corner-stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall in no way be shamed.
To you therefore that believe [is] the preciousness; but to disobedient [ones] a stone which the builders rejected, this became head of corner,
and stone of stumbling, and rock of offence; stumbling as they do at the word, being disobedient, unto which also they were appointed.
But ye [are] a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set out the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness unto his marvellous light;
who once [were] no people but now God’s people, the unpitied, but now pitied.
Beloved, I exhort [you] as strangers and sojourners to abstain from the fleshly lusts such as war against the soul,
having your behaviour comely among the Gentiles; that in what they speak against you as evil-doers, they, as observing, may from your comely works glorify God in [the] day of visitation.
Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake; whether to a king as supreme,
or to rulers as being sent through him, for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those that do well.
Because so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;
as free, and not having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God’s bondmen.
Honour all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.
Household servants, be in subjection with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked.
For this [is] grace if for conscience toward God one endureth griefs, suffering unjustly.
For what glory [is it] if when ye sin and are buffeted ye shall endure? but if when ye do well and suffer ye shall endure, this [is] grace with God.
For to this were ye called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow up his steps;
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;
who when reviled did not again revile, when suffering did not threaten, but gave over to him that judgeth righteously;
who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
For ye were going astray as sheep, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.