2:1  Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

2:2  as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,

2:3  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

2:4  coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

2:5  You 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.

2:6  Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed."

2:7  For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone,"

2:8  and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed.

2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

2:10  who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

2:11  Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

2:12  having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

2:13  Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

2:14  or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well.

2:15  For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

2:16  as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

2:17  Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

2:18  Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

2:19  For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

2:20  For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

2:21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

2:22  who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth."

2:23  Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

2:24  who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

2:25  For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.