CHAPTER 2

1 Laying aside, therefore, all wickedness, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envyings, and all slanderings,

2 As infants lately born, desire the milk that is rational and guileless, that by it ye may grow;

3 If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

4 To whom coming as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5 Ye also yourselves as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Therefore also the Scripture contains this, "Behold, I lay in Sion a corner-stone, chosen, precious; and he who believeth in him shall not be ashamed."

7 To you, then, who believe, he is precious; but to the unbelieving, the stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner;

8 And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who stumble at the word, being unbelieving; to which also they had been appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye may declare the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness

10 Into his marvelous light: who sometimes were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I exhort you as sojourners and strangers, to abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul;

12 Having your behavior good among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, considering your good works, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Be then subject to every human ordinance for the Lord's sake;

14 Whether to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as those who are sent by him, for the punishment indeed of evil-doers, but for the praise of those who do well:

15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put a stop to the ignorance of foolish men;

16 As free, and not having liberty as a cloak for wickedness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honor all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

18 The servants, let them be subject with all fear to their lords, not only to the good and humane, but also to the perverse.

19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience towards God any one bears sorrows, suffering unjustly:

20 For what sort of glory is it, if ye bear it when having done evil ye be buffeted? but if, having done well and suffering, ye bear it, this is acceptable with God.

21 For to this end you have been called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye may follow his footsteps;

22 Who did no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth; who, when reviled, reviled not again;

23 When suffering, threatened not; but committed his cause to him who judgeth righteously;

24 Who bare himself our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, may live to righteousness; by whose bruise have ye been healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but ye have been now turned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.