| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. | 1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. |
| 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, | 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, |
| 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. | 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. |
| 4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, | 4As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-- |
| 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. |
| 6For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” | 6For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." |
| 7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” | 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," |
| 8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. | 8and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. |
| 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. | 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. |
| 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. | 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. |
| 11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. | 11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. |
| 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. | 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. |
| 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, | 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, |
| 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. | 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. |
| 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. | 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. |
| 16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. | 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. |
| 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. | 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. |
| 18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. | 18Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. |
| 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. | 19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. |
| 20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. | 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. |
| 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: | 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. |
| 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” | 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." |
| 23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. | 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. |
| 24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” | 24"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." |
| 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | 25For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. |
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