Por tanto, desechando toda malicia^1a y todo engaño, e hipocresías, envidias y toda difamación^2b, 2 desead como niños recién nacidos^a, la leche pura de la palabra^1b, para que por ella crezcáis^c para salvación, 3 si es que habéis probado^a la benignidad del Señor^1b. 4 Y viniendo a Él como a una piedra viva, desechada por los hombres^a, pero escogida y preciosa delante de Dios, 5 también vosotros^a, como piedras vivas, sed edificados como casa espiritual^b para un sacerdocio santo^c, para ofrecer sacrificios espirituales^d aceptables a Dios por medio de Jesucristo. 6 Pues esto se encuentra¹ en la Escritura²:HE AQUÍ, PONGO EN SIÓN UNA PIEDRA ESCOGIDA, UNA PRECIOSA piedra ANGULAR^a,Y EL QUE CREA EN ÉL NO SERÁ AVERGONZADO^b. 7 Este precioso valor es, pues, para vosotros los que creéis; pero para los que no creen^a,LA PIEDRA QUE DESECHARON LOS CONSTRUCTORES,ESA, EN PIEDRA ANGULAR^1b SE HA CONVERTIDO, 8 y,PIEDRA DE TROPIEZO Y ROCA DE ESCANDALO^a;pues ellos tropiezan^b porque son desobedientes a la palabra, y para ello estaban también destinados^c. 9 Pero vosotros sois linaje escogido^a, real sacerdocio^b, nación santa^c, pueblo adquirido para posesión de Dios^d, a fin de que anunciéis las virtudes de aquel que os llamó de las tinieblas a su luz admirable^e; 10 pues vosotros en otro tiempo no erais pueblo, pero ahora sois el pueblo de Dios; no habíais recibido misericordia, pero ahora habéis recibido misericordia^a.

11 Amados^a, os ruego^b como a extranjeros^c y peregrinos, que os abstengáis de las pasiones carnales^d que combaten contra el alma^e. 12 Mantened entre los gentiles una¹ conducta irreprochable^a, a fin de que en aquello que os calumnian como malhechores^b, ellos, por razón de² vuestras buenas obras, al considerarlas, glorifiquen a Dios^c en el día de la visitación^3d.

13 Someteos, por causa del Señor, a toda institución humana^a, ya sea al rey, como autoridad, 14 o a los gobernadores, como enviados por él para castigo de los malhechores^a y alabanza de los que hacen el bien^b. 15 Porque esta es la voluntad de Dios^a: que¹ haciendo bien, hagáis enmudecer la ignorancia de los hombres insensatos^b. 16 Andad como libres^a, pero no uséis la libertad como pretexto¹ para la maldad, sino empleadla como siervos de Dios^b. 17 Honrad a todos^a, amad a los hermanos^1b, temed a Dios, honrad al rey^2c.

18 Siervos^a, estad sujetos a vuestros amos con todo respeto, nosolo a los que son buenos y afables^b, sino también a los que son insoportables¹. 19 Porque esto halla gracia, si por causa de la conciencia^a ante Dios, alguno sobrelleva penalidades sufriendo injustamente. 20 Pues ¿qué mérito hay, si cuando pecáis y sois tratados con severidad lo soportáis con paciencia? Pero si cuando hacéis lo bueno^a sufrís por ello y lo soportáis con paciencia, esto halla gracia con Dios. 21 Porque para este propósito habéis sido llamados^a, pues también Cristo sufrió por vosotros^b, dejándoos¹ ejemplo para que sigáis sus pisadas^c, 22 EL CUAL NO COMETIÓ PECADO, NI ENGAÑO ALGUNO SE HALLÓ EN SU BOCA^a; 23 y quien cuando le ultrajaban^a, no respondía ultrajando; cuando padecía, no amenazaba, sino que se encomendaba a aquel que juzga con justicia; 24 y Él mismo llevó¹ nuestros pecados en su cuerpo^a sobre² la cruz^3b, a fin de que muramos al pecado^4c y vivamos a la justicia, porque por sus heridas^5d fuisteis sanados^e. 25 Pues vosotros andabais descarriados¹ como ovejas^a, pero ahora habéis vuelto al Pastor^b y Guardián² de vuestras almas.

So ^aput aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all ^bslander and hateful speech; 2 ^alike newborn babies you should long for the ^bpure milk of the word, so that by it you may ^cbe nurtured and grow in respect to salvation its ultimate fulfillment, 3 if in fact you have already ^atasted ^1bthe goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord. Ps 34:8

4 Come to Him the risen Lord as to a living Stone which men ^arejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God. Ps 118:22; Is 28:16 5 ^aYou believers, like living stones, are ¹being built up into a ^bspiritual house for a holy and dedicated ^cpriesthood, to ^doffer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:“^aBEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOSEN STONE, A ^bPRECIOUS (honored) CORNERSTONE,AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED in his expectations.” Is 28:16 7 ^aThis precious value, then, is for you who believe in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation; but for those who disbelieve,“^bTHE very STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS ^cREJECTEDHAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” Ps 118:22 8 and,“^aA STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;^bfor they stumble because they disobey the word of God, ^cand to this they who reject Him as Savior were also appointed. Is 8:14

9 But you are ^aA CHOSEN RACE, A royal ^bPRIESTHOOD, A ^cCONSECRATED NATION, A special ^dPEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections of Him who called you ^eout of darkness into His marvelous light. Ex 19:5, 6 10 ^aOnce you were NOT A PEOPLE at all, but now you are GOD’S PEOPLE; once you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. Hos 2:23

11 ^aBeloved, ^bI urge you as ^caliens and strangers in this world to abstain from the ^dsensual urges those dishonorable desires that wage ^ewar against the soul. 12 ^aKeep your behavior excellent among the unsaved Gentiles conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity, so that ¹for whatever reason they may ^bslander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may instead come to ^cglorify God ^2din the day of visitation when He looks upon them with mercy.

13 ^aSubmit yourselves to the authority of every human institution for the sake of the Lord to honor His name, whether it is to a king as one in a position of power, 14 or to governors as sent by him ^ato bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to ^bpraise and encourage those who do right. 15 For ^ait is the will of God that by doing right you may ^bsilence (muzzle, gag) the culpable ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people. 16 Live as ^afree people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but use it and live as ^bbond-servants of God. 17 ^aShow respect for all people treat them honorably, ^blove the brotherhood of believers, ^cfear God, ^dhonor the king.

18 ^1aServants, be submissive to your masters with all proper respect, not only to those who are good and ^bkind, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an ^1aawareness of the will of God. 20 After all, what kind of credit is there if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you endure it patiently? But if ^awhen you do what is right and patiently bear undeserved suffering, this finds favor with God.

21 For as a believer ^ayou have been called for this purpose, ^bsince Christ suffered for you, leaving you an ^cexample, so that you may follow in His footsteps. 22 HE ^aCOMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT EVER FOUND IN HIS MOUTH. Is 53:9 23 While being ^areviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering, He made no threats of vengeance, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly. 24 He personally ^acarried our sins in His body on the ^1bcross willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice, so that we ^cmight die to sin becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin and live for righteousness; for ^dby His wounds you who believe have been ^2ehealed. 25 For you were ^acontinually wandering like so many sheep, but now you have come back to the ^bShepherd and Guardian of your souls. Is 53:5, 6

Therefore, ^aputting aside all ¹malice and all deceit and ²hypocrisy and ³envy and all ^4bslander, 2 ^alike newborn babies, long for the ^1bpure ²milk of the word, so that by it you may ^cgrow ³in respect to salvation, 3 if you have ^atasted ^1bthe kindness of the Lord.

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^arejected by men, but is ¹choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 ^ayou also, as living stones, ¹are being built up as a ^bspiritual house for a holy ^cpriesthood, to ^doffer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in ¹Scripture:“^aBEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A ^bPRECIOUS CORNER stone,AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN ²HIM WILL NOT BE ³DISAPPOINTED.” 7 ^aThis precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,“^bTHE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS ^cREJECTED,THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” 8 and,“^aA STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;^bfor they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^cand to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are ^aA CHOSEN RACE, A royal ^bPRIESTHOOD, A ^cHOLY NATION, ^dA PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^eout of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 ^afor you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

11 ^aBeloved, ^bI urge you as ^caliens and strangers to abstain from ^dfleshly lusts which wage ^ewar against the soul. 12 ^aKeep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^bslander you as evildoers, they may ¹because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^cglorify God ^din the day of ²visitation.

13 ^aSubmit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent ¹by him ^afor the punishment of evildoers and the ^bpraise of those who do right. 15 For ^1asuch is the will of God that by doing right you may ^bsilence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as ^afree men, and ¹do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^bbondslaves of God. 17 ^aHonor all people, ^blove the brotherhood, ^cfear God, ^dhonor the ¹king.

18 ^aServants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^bgentle, but also to those who are ¹unreasonable. 19 For this finds ¹favor, if for the sake of ^aconscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^awhen you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds ¹favor with God.

21 For ^ayou have been called for this purpose, ^bsince Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^can example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO ^aCOMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 ¹and while being ^areviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself ^1abore our sins in His body on the ^2bcross, so that we ^cmight die to ³sin and live to righteousness; for ^dby His ⁴wounds you were ^ehealed. 25 For you were ^acontinually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^bShepherd and ¹Guardian of your souls.