1Therefore, having put away all rishus (malice), all remiyah (guile, fraud, deceit) and tzevi'ut (hypocrisy) and kin'ah (envy) and all lashon hora,

2As new born olalim (infants), desire the pure cholov ruchani (spiritual milk), that by it you may grow into Yeshu'at Eloheynu,

3Now that you have tasted KI TOV Hashem(that the L-rd is good). ²⁴

4Come to him, ²⁵to that “Even Chayyah” (Living Stone), CHADAL ISHIM (rejected by men) ²⁶but BECHIR (Chosen), ²⁷and precious in the sight of Hashem.

5You also, like avanim chayyot (living stones), ²⁸are being built up for a Bayit Ruchani (a Spiritual Beis, House) for a kehunnat kodesh (holy priesthood) to offer up zivchei ruach (sacrifices of the spirit) acceptable to Hashem through Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

6For it stands written in the Kitvei HaKodesh, HINENI YISSAD B'TZIYON EVEN PINNAT YIKRAT (Behold, I place in Zion a precious corner stone), ²⁹chosen, and HAMMA'AMIN LO YACHISH ³⁰(the one believing [on Moshiach] never will be dismayed, ashamed).

7Therefore, to you who are the ma'aminim ³¹this EVEN (Stone) is YIKRAT (precious), ³²but to the Apikorosim (Unbelievers): EVEN MA'ASU HABONIM HAY'TAH LEROSH PINAH ³³(The Stone which the ones building rejected became the head of the corner).

8And EVEN NEGEF U'L'TZUR MICHSHOL (a stone for stumbling over and a rock for falling over). ³⁴They stumble because they have no mishma'at (obedience) ³⁵to the Dvar Hashem which is also what they were appointed for. ³⁶

9But you are an AM NIVCHAR (a chosen people ), ³⁷a MAMLECHET KOHANIM (a kingdom of priests, royal priests), ³⁸a GOY KADOSH (a holy nation), ³⁹an AM SEGULLAH (a people of treasured possession), ⁴⁰for this purpose: that you may declare the wondrous deeds of the One who gave you the kri'ah (calling) and summoned you out of choshech into his marvelous ohr. ⁴¹

10You, who once were LO AMI (not My people) ⁴²but now AMI ATAH (My people you are), ⁴³the AM Hashem(the people of G-d), the ones having not received rachamim, but now having received rachamim. ⁴⁴

11Chaverim, I say “Chazak!” (Be Strong) to you as aliens and exiles, ⁴⁵exhorting you to abstain from fleshly ta'avot (lusts) which make milchamah (war) against the neshamah.

12Let your hitnahagut (conduct) among the Goyim show feste (excellent) midas chasidus (trait of piety) that, wherein they speak against you as anshei resha (men of wickedness), by observing your ma'asim tovim they may glorify Hashem in the YOM PEKUDDAH (Day of Visitation, Reckoning). ⁴⁶

13Submit ⁴⁷to every created human memshalah (governing authority) because of Hashem, whether to a Melech (King) as being HaRosh,

14Or to moshelim (governors) as being sent by Hashem for the purpose of nakam (vengeance) on anshei resha (men of wickedness), but for the purpose of shevach (praise, commendation) on anshei tzedek.

15For it is the ratzon Hashem(the will of G-d) that you, by acting as anshei tzedek, may silence the lack of da'as (knowledge) of the kesilim (the foolish people).

16As Avadim (Servants) of Hashem, live as Bnei Chorin (Sons of Freedom, Freedmen); yet do not use your cherut (freedom) as a cloak for concealing ra'ah (evil).

17Have kavod (respect, honor) toward kol Bnei Adam; have ahavah (agape) toward HaAchim (The Brotherhood of the Messianic Chavurah); have yirat Shomayim toward Hashem, ⁴⁸have kavod to HaMelech.

18Avadim, be submitting in kol yir'ah (all fear) to your adonim (masters), not only to the good and eidele (gentle) adonim, but also to the hard sarei misim (task-masters). ⁴⁹

19For this is worthy of shevach (praise, commendation) if, because of a consciousness of Hashem, anyone bears up under tzoros (troubles) while suffering unjustly.

20For what shevach (praise) is it if, after committing chatta'im (sins) and being beaten, you endure? But if being osei tzedek (doers of what is right) and suffering, then you endure, this is worthy of shevach before Hashem.

21It was for this tachlis (purpose) [of your being osei tzedek and suffering] that you were given your kri'ah (calling), because also Moshiach suffered on behalf of you, ⁵⁰leaving you a mofet (example), that you should follow be'ikvot Moshiach (in the steps of Moshiach),

22Who was beli chet (without sin) V'LO MIRMAH BEFIV (and no deceit was in his mouth); ⁵¹

23Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, who, being reviled, did not retaliate; suffering, he did not utter iyumim (threats), but handed himself over, entrusting himself to the Shofet Tzedek (Righteous Judge); ⁵²

24Moshiach, who himself NASAH (bore, carried away) ⁵³ES PEYSHA'EINU (our transgressions, our sins) ⁵⁴in geviyyato ⁵⁵on HAETZ ⁵⁶that, having become niftarim (deceased ones) to chattoteinu, we might become Kol Chai (all living) to Tzidkanut (Righteousness); UVACHAVURATO NIRPA LANU (by whose wounds you were healed). ⁵⁷

25For you were KULLANU KA'TZON TA'INU (all of us like sheep we went astray), ⁵⁸for you were as sheep being led astray, but you made teshuva now to the Ro'eh ⁵⁹and Mashgiach (Overseer) ⁶⁰of your nefashot (souls).