1Put away all badness and all deception, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil talk. 2Like newborn infants, long for the spiritual milk that is without deception to help you grow to salvation. 3You have tasted that the Lord is kind. 4You came to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and precious with God. 5You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6The scriptures say: »I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, chosen and precious (Isaiah 28:16). He who believes in him will not be disappointed shamed.« 7This precious value is for those who believe. But for the unbeliever: »The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone.« 8It is a stone that people stumble over, and a large rock that people find offensive. They stumble because they are disobedient to the word. To this end they were appointed. 9You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession, that you may show the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10In time past you were no people, but now you are the people of God. You had not then received, but now have received mercy compassiondivine kindness. 11Beloved, I request that you as aliens and strangers abstain from fleshly lust desires, which causes conflict in you. 12Maintain fine behavior among the nations. That way when they speak badly about you, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation inspection. 13Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it is to the king, 14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do good. 15It is God’s will that you do the right things and that this will silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Be free, and yet do not use your freedom for a covering for evil, but as servants of God. 17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Reverence and respect God. Honor the king. 18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle master but also to the hard to please. 19For this is to your credit to suffer wrongfully and endure grief because of your conscience toward God. 20What value is there when you sin, and are buffeted for it, you take it patiently? But if, when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For this you were called because Christ also suffered for you. He left you an example a copy for imitationa model that you should follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin and deception was not found in him. 23When he was reviled insulted, he did not revile in return. When he suffered he did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. 24He bore our sins in his body upon the stake, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed because of his wounds stripes. 25For you were straying like sheep. But now you have returned to your shepherd and overseer.