1 Peter 2:1-14 ▼

1 WHEREFORE putting far away wickedness of every kind, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all backbitings,

2 as new-born babes desire earnestly the unadulterated milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 Whom approaching, as the living stone, rejected indeed of men, but elect of God, and honourable,

5 ye also, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, ?Behold, I lay in Sion a cornerstone, elect, precious, and the believer on him shall never be confounded.?

7 By you therefore who believe is he honoured: but respecting the disobedient, ?the stone which the builders rejected, this very stone is become the head of the corner,

8 and a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence,? to those who stumble at the word, disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired by purchase; that ye should publish abroad the excellencies of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10 who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but are now the objects of mercy.

11 Beloved, I exhort you, as strangers and sojourners, Abstain from carnal lusts, which war against the soul;

12 having your conduct ornamental among the Gentiles: that, whereas they malign you as wicked doers, they may, being eye-witnesses of your good works, glorify God in the day when he visits them.

13 Be subject therefore to every human constitution for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as the supreme magistrate;

14 or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of wicked doers, but the praise of those who do well.