1Therefore put aside all evil, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

2As newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that through it you may grow in salvation,

3if you have tasted that the Lord is kind.

4Come to him who is a living stone that has been rejected by people, but that has been chosen by God as valuable to him.

5You also are like living stones that are being built up to be a spiritual house, in order to be a holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6Scripture contains this: “See, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone,
chosen and valuable.
Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”

7The honor then is for you who believe. But, “the stone that was rejected by the builders,
this has become the head of the corner”—

8and, “A stone of stumbling
and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word—which is what they were appointed to do.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession, so that you would announce the wonderful actions of the one who called you out from darkness into his marvelous light.

10Once you were not a people,
but now you are the people of God.
You did not receive mercy,
but now you have received mercy.

11Beloved, I call on you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires, which make war against your soul.

12You should have good behavior among the Gentiles, so that, if they speak about you as having done evil things, they may observe your good works and praise God on the day of his coming.

13Obey every human authority for the Lord's sake. Obey both the king as supreme,

14and also the governors, who are sent to punish evildoers and to praise those who do good.

15For this is God's will, that in doing good you silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

16As free people, do not use your freedom as a covering for wickedness, but be like servants of God.

17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect. Be subject not only to the good and gentle masters, but also to the malicious ones.

19For it is praiseworthy if anyone endures pain while suffering injustice because of his awareness of God.

20For how much credit is there if you sin and then endure while being punished? But if you have done good and then you suffer while being punished, this is worthy of praise from God.

21For it is to this that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you. He left an example for you to follow in his steps.

22“He committed no sin,
neither was any deceit found in his mouth.”

23When he was reviled, he did not revile back. When he suffered, he did not threaten back, but he gave himself to the one who judges justly.

24He himself carried our sins in his body to the tree, so that we would have no more part in sin, and so that we would live for righteousness. By his bruises you have been healed.

25All of you had been wandering away like lost sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.