1 Peter 2

MKJV^{(i) 1} Therefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings, and all evil speakings, ² desire the sincere milk of the Word, as newborn babes, so that you may grow by it; ³ if truly you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. ⁴ For having been drawn to Him, a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God; ⁵ you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed." ⁷ Therefore to you who believe is the honor. But to those who are disobedient, He is the Stone which the builders rejected; this One came to be the Head of the corner, ⁸ and a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the Word, to which they also were appointed. ⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied. ¹¹ Dearly beloved, I exhort you as temporary residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, ¹² having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify God in a day of His visitation, seeing your good works. ¹³ Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers. ¹⁵ For such is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men; ¹⁶ as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. ¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those good and forbearing, but also to the perverse ones. ¹⁹ For this is a grace, if for conscience toward God anyone endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what glory is it if you patiently endure while sinning and being buffeted? But if you suffer while doing good, and patiently endure, this is a grace from God. ²¹ For you were not called to this? For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps, ²² He who did no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth, ²³ who when He was reviled did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself up to Him who judges righteously. ²⁴ He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were as sheep going astray, but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.