1 Peter 2:1-17 ▼

1 Having, therefore, put away all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 as new-born babes, long ye for the spiritual, unadulterated milk, that thereby ye may grow unto salvation,

3 if ye tasted that the Lord is gracious;

4 to Whom coming, a Living Stone, rejected, indeed, by men, but with God Elect, Precious,

5 ye yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Corner-Stone, Elect, Precious; and he who believes on Him shall in nowise be put to shame."

7 To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"

8 and "a stone of stumbling, and rock of offense"; who stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.

9 But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 who once were not a people, but are now God's people; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly desires, which, indeed, war against the soul;

12 having your conduct seemly among the gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, from your good works which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourself to every human ordinance, for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as supreme;

14 or to governors, as sent through him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for praise to those who do well;

15 for so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

16 as free, and not holding your freedom as a cloak for wickedness, but as servants of God.

17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.