1 Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings, 2 as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation, 3 if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] good. 4 To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with °God chosen, precious, 5 yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to °God by Jesus Christ. 6 Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame. 7 To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner, 8 and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed. 9 But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; 10 who once [were] not a people, but now °God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy. 11 Beloved, I exhort [you], as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify °God in [the] day of visitation. 13 Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme, 14 or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well. 15 Because so is the will of °God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men; 16 as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as °God's bondmen. 17 Shew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear °God, honour the king. 18 Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered. 19 For this [is] acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards °God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly. 20 For what glory [is it], if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear [it]? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear [it], this is acceptable with °God. 21 For to this have ye been called; for Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow in his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; 23 who, [when] reviled, reviled not again; [when] suffering, threatened not; but gave [himself] over into the hands of him who judges righteously; 24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, in order that, being dead to sins, we may live to righteousness: by whose stripes ye have been healed. 25 For ye were going astray as sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.