2:1 |
Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, |
2:2 |
as newborn babies, 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." { Isaiah 28:16 } |
2:7 |
For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone," { Psalm 118:22 } |
2:8 |
and, "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." { Isaiah 8:14 } For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which 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 proclaim the excellence 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 of 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 { TR reads "us" instead of "you" } an example, that you should follow his steps, |
2:22 |
who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." { Isaiah 53:9 } |
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 now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer { "Overseer" is from the Greek episkopon, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent. } of your souls. |