1Therefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings, and all evil speakings, 2desire the sincere milk of the word, as newborn babes, so that you may grow by it; 3if truly you have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. 4For having been drawn to Him, a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God; 5you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed. 7Therefore to you who believe [is] the honor. But to those who are disobedient, [He is the] Stone which the builders rejected; this One came to be [the] Head of the corner, 8and a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the word, to which they also were appointed. 9But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10[you] who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied [then], but now pitied. 11Dearly beloved, I exhort [you] as [temporary] residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify God in a day of [His] visitation, seeing [your] good works. 13Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance [on] evildoers, but for praise [on] well-doers. 15For such is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men; 16as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God. 17Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18Servants, [be] subject to [your] masters with all fear, not only to those good and forbearing, but also to the perverse ones. 19For this [is] a grace, if for conscience [toward] God anyone endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory [is it] if you patiently endure [while] sinning and being buffeted? But if you suffer [while] doing good, and patiently endure, this [is] a grace from God. 21For you were not called to this? For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps, 22He who did no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth, 23who when He was reviled did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave [Himself] up to Him who judges righteously. 24[He] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were as sheep going astray, but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.