NET Bible

New Birth to Joy and Holiness

^2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ^2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, ^2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.

A Living Stone, a Chosen People

^2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, ^2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ^2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” ^2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, ^2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. ^2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ^2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.

^2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, ^2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.

Submission to Authorities

^2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme ^2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. ^2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. ^2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. ^2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.

^2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. ^2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. ^2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. ^2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. ^2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. ^2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. ^2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. ^2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.