1 Peter 2

1So get rid of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

2Like newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up into salvation,

3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4As you come to him, the living stone rejected by people but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

5you yourselves, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6For it stands in Scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”

7So this honor is for you who believe. But for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

8and, “A stone to strike against and a rock to stumble over.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people God has made his own, so that you may announce the great deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing 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.

11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which wage war against the soul.

12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day when he visits.

13For the Lord’s sake, submit to every human authority: whether to the emperor as the supreme authority,

14or to governors, who are 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 good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover for evil; live as servants of God.

17Show respect to everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18Slaves, submit to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle but also to those who are harsh.

19For it is commendable if someone endures the pain of unjust suffering because they are mindful of God.

20For what credit is there if you endure a beating for doing wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing good, this is commendable before God.

21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

22He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

23When he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he made no threats, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

24He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.

25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.