| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-- |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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," |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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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