1Therefore, put away from you all wickedness, all treachery, partiality, envy and slander, 2And be as nursing infants, and yearn for the word as for pure and spiritual milk by which you shall grow strong for life, 3If you have tasted and you have seen that THE LORD JEHOVAH is good,

4He to whom you draw near, The Living Stone, whom the children of men have rejected, and is chosen and precious to God. 5And you also, as living stones, be built up and become spiritual temples and holy Priests to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable before God by Yeshua The Messiah.

6For it is said in the Scriptures, “Behold, I lay down in Zion an approved and Precious Stone at the head of the corner, and whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”

7This honor is given therefore to you - those who believe, but to those who are disobedient,

8He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and they stumble on it, in that they do not obey the word, for they are appointed to this.

9But you are a chosen race who serve as Priests for The Kingdom, a holy people, a redeemed assembly; you should proclaim the praises of him who called you from darkness into his excellent light. 10You are those who at the first were not considered a people, but now are the people of God, neither were mercies upon you, but now mercies are poured out upon you.

11Beloved, I beg of you, as wayfarers and as foreigners, depart from all these desires of the body that make war against the soul, 12And let your way of life be beautiful before all children of men, those who speak wicked words of you, that they may see your beautiful works and praise God in the day of examination.

13Submit to all the sons of men for the sake of God; to Kings, because of their authority, 14And Judges, because they are sent by him for the punishment of wrongdoers and for the praise of the workers of good. 15For it is the will of God in this way that by your excellent works you may shut the mouths of fools - those who do not know God, 16As free children, and not as persons who make their liberty a cloak for their evil, but as Servants of God. 17Honor every person, love your brethren, worship God and honor Kings.

18To those who are Servants among you: Submit to your masters in reverence, not only to the good and to the meek, but also to the severe and to the perverse; 19For such servants have grace before God who, for the sake of a good conscience, endure distresses which come upon them by The Evil One. 20But what honor is it to those who endure suffering because of their foolishness? But when you do what is good and they afflict you and you endure, then it magnifies your honor with God.

21For you are called to this, for even The Messiah died for our sake and left us this example, that you would walk in his steps, 22He who did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth; 23He who was insulted and did not insult, and he suffered and did not threaten, but he handed his judgment over to The Judge of righteousness. 24And he took all of our sins and lifted them in his body to the cross, for as we are dead to sin, we shall live in his righteousness, for by his scars you have been healed. 25For you had gone astray like sheep, and you have returned now to The Shepherd and The Caregiver of your souls.