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.

Therefore, ^arid yourselves of all ¹malice and all deceit and ²hypocrisy and ³envy and all ^4bslander, 2 ^aand like 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 people, 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 spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in ¹Scripture:“^aBEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A ^bPRECIOUS CORNERSTONE,AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN ²HIM WILL NOT BE ³PUT TO SHAME.” 7 ^aThis precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,“^bA STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS ^cREJECTED,THIS BECAME THE ¹CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” 8 and,“^aA STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;^bfor they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^cand to this they were also appointed.

9 But you are ^aA CHOSEN PEOPLE, 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 ^cforeigners 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 ^don 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 ^bsilence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Act as ^afree people, and ¹do not use your freedom as a ²covering for evil, but use it as ^bbond-servants of God. 17 ^aHonor all people, ^blove the brotherhood, ^cfear God, ^dhonor the ¹king.

18 ^aServants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^bgentle, but also to those who are ¹harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^aconscience toward God a person endures ¹grief 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 favor with God.

21 For ^ayou have been called for this purpose, ^bbecause Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^can example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 HE WHO ^aCOMMITTED NO sin, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT found IN HIS MOUTH; 23 ¹and while being ^aabusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself ^1abrought our sins in His body up on the ^2bcross, so that we ^cmight die to ³sin and live for righteousness; ^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.

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.