Therefore, alaying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 aas newborn babes, desire the pure bmilk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have atasted that the Lord is gracious.
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, arejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
a“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
a“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and
a“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
bThey stumble, being disobedient to the word, cto which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of adarkness into His marvelous light; 10 awho once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Living Before the World
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts awhich war against the soul, 12 ahaving your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, bthey may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submission to Government
13 aTherefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 aas free, yet not busing liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear aGod. Honor the king.
Submission to Masters
18 aServants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is acommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For awhat credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For ato this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, bleaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Whoa committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 awho, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but bcommitted Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 awho Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, bthat we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—cby whose stripes you were healed. 25 For ayou were like sheep going astray, but have now returned bto the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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