The Living Stone and a Holy People

Therefore, rid yourselves of(A) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.(B) Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,[a](C) so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted(D) that the Lord is good.[b](E) As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by[c] God— you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood[d] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God(F) through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,(G)
a chosen and honored[e] cornerstone,(H)
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.[f](I)

So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone,[g](J)

and

A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over.[h](K)

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined(L) for this.

But you are a chosen race,[i][j](M) a royal priesthood,[k](N) a holy nation,[l](O) a people for his possession,[m](P) so that you may proclaim the praises[n][o](Q) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(R) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy,(S) but now you have received mercy.

A Call to Good Works

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles(T) to abstain(U) from sinful(V) desires that wage war against the soul.(W) 12 Conduct(X) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,[p] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.(Y)

13 Submit(Z) to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor[q] as the supreme authority(AA) 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will(AB) that you silence the ignorance(AC) of foolish people by doing good. 16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,(AD) but as God’s slaves.(AE) 17 Honor everyone. Love(AF) the brothers and sisters.(AG) Fear God.(AH) Honor the emperor.

Submission of Slaves to Masters

18 Household slaves, submit to your masters(AI) with all reverence(AJ) not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.(AK) 19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,(AL) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered(AM) for you, leaving you an example,(AN) that you should follow(AO) in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin,(AP) and no deceit(AQ) was found in his mouth;[r](AR) 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges(AS) justly. 24 He himself bore our sins(AT) in his body(AU) on the tree;(AV) so that, having died to sins,(AW) we might live for righteousness.(AX) By his wounds[s](AY) you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray,[t](AZ) but you have now returned to the Shepherd(BA) and Overseer[u] of your souls.

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Or desire pure spiritual milk
  2. 2:3 Ps 34:8
  3. 2:4 Or precious to
  4. 2:5 Or you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood
  5. 2:6 Or precious
  6. 2:6 Is 28:16 LXX
  7. 2:7 Ps 118:22
  8. 2:8 Is 8:14
  9. 2:9 Or generation, or nation
  10. 2:9 Dt 7:6; 10:15; Is 43:20 LXX
  11. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX; Is 61:6
  12. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX
  13. 2:9 Ex 19:5; 23:22 LXX; Dt 4:20; 7:6; Is 43:21 LXX
  14. 2:9 Or the mighty deeds
  15. 2:9 Is 42:12; 43:21
  16. 2:12 Or among the nations, or among the pagans
  17. 2:13 Or king
  18. 2:22 Is 53:9
  19. 2:24 Is 53:5
  20. 2:25 Is 53:6
  21. 2:25 Or Guardian

Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(C) so that by it you may grow up(D) in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(E)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built(H) into a spiritual house[a](I) to be a holy priesthood,(J) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(K) For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(L)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](M)

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(N)

“The stone the builders rejected(O)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](P)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](Q)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(R)

But you are a chosen people,(S) a royal priesthood,(T) a holy nation,(U) God’s special possession,(V) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(W) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(X) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(Y) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(Z) to abstain from sinful desires,(AA) which wage war against your soul.(AB) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(AC) and glorify God(AD) on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(AE) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(AF) and to commend those who do right.(AG) 15 For it is God’s will(AH) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(AI) 16 Live as free people,(AJ) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(AK) live as God’s slaves.(AL) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(AM) fear God, honor the emperor.(AN)

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(AO) not only to those who are good and considerate,(AP) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(AQ) 20 But 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.(AR) 21 To this(AS) you were called,(AT) because Christ suffered for you,(AU) leaving you an example,(AV) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(AW)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e](AX)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(AY) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(AZ) Instead, he entrusted himself(BA) to him who judges justly.(BB) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(BC) in his body on the cross,(BD) so that we might die to sins(BE) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(BF) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f](BG) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(BH) and Overseer of your souls.(BI)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
  5. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  6. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)