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Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
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Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
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now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him -
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you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
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Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
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and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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Once 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.
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Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
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Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
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Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: Whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
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or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
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For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
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Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
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Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
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Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
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For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
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But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
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“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
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When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges rightly.
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“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
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For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd of your souls.
