1 Peter

The first epistle general of Peter, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

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

A Living Stone, a Chosen People

   4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God's sight, 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. 6 For it says in scripture, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame." 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, 8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 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. 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.
   11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 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

   13 Be subject to every human institution for the LORD's sake, whether to a king as supreme 14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. 15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves. 17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
   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. 19 For this finds God's favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 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. 21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
   22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 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. 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. 25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

King James Version

   1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
   2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
   3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
   4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
   5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
   6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
   7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
   8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
   9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
   10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
   11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
   12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
   13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
   14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
   15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
   16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
   17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
   18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
   19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
   20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
   21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
   22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
   23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
   24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
   25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.