Desire to Grow

1Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,

2As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:

3If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Living Stone and a Chosen Generation

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

5You also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.

7Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner,

8And, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.

9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12Having your conduct 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.

Submit to All in Authority

13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

19For this is commendable, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

20For what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is commendable with God.

Christ's Example of Suffering

21For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

24Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.

25For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.