Peter's First Letter (WEB)
2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2:2as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, 2:3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: 2:4coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 2:5You 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. 2:6Because it is contained in Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious:
He who believes in him will not be put to shame."
2:7For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders rejected,
Has become the chief cornerstone,"
2:8and,
"A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."
For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. 2:9But you
are an elect 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:
2:10who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God, who had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy. 2:11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from
fleshly lust, which war against the soul; 2:12having 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. 2:13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 2:14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on
evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. 2:15For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you
should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 2:16as free, and not using your freedom for a
cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. 2:17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honor the king. 2:18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the
good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 2:19For it is commendable if someone endures pain,
suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. 2:20For 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. 2:21For to this were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow his steps, 2:22who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in
his mouth." 2:23Who, when he was reviled, didn't revile back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but
committed himself to him who judges righteously; 2:24who 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. 2:25For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls.