1 PETER 2 (NIV)
- Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
- Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
- As you come to him, the living STone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -
- 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.
- 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."
- Now to you who believe, this sotne is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"
- and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.
- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- 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.
- Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war againt your soul.
- 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.
- Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
- or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
- For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
- Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
- Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
- For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
- 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.
- To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
- "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
- 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 justly.
- He 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.
- For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
