1Therefore, put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God— 5you also, like living stones, 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: »Behold, I lay in Zion a stone,a cornerstone chosen and precious,and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.« 7To you therefore who believe, this is precious, but for those who do not believe, »The very stone which the builders rejectedhas become the chief cornerstone,« 8and, »A stone that causes men to stumbleand a rock that makes them fall;« they stumble because they disobey the word—as they were desstined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people,but now you are the people of God;once you had not received mercy,but now you have received mercy. 11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul. 12Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the supreme authority, 14or to 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 foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil; live as servants of God. 17Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are overbearing. 19For a man is approved if, mindful of God, he bears up under pain while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you patiently endure? But if when you do right and suffer for it you patiently endure, you have favor with God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22»He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth;« 23when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he uttered no threats, but he trusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.