| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. | 1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. |
| 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— | 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, |
| 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. | 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. |
| 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, | 4As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-- |
| 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer 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: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not 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." |
| 7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that 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, as they were destined to do. | 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 race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies 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 God’s people; 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 sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. | 11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. |
| 12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. | 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. |
| 13Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, | 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, |
| 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. | 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. |
| 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. | 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. |
| 16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living 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. |
| 17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. | 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. |
| 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. | 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 this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. | 19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. |
| 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of 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 have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. | 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. |
| 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. | 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." |
| 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting 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, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been 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 straying like sheep, but have now 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. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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