NETfree - I Peter - 2

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.

2:4  So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless 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 priceless 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.

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.