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.