^{1 Ref} Having put aside, then, all evil, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil speakings,

^{2 Ref} as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

^{3 Ref} if so be ye did taste that the Lord `is' gracious,

^{4 Ref} to whom coming -- a living stone -- by men, indeed, having been disapproved of, but with God choice, precious,

^{5 Ref} and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

^{6 Ref} Wherefore, also, it is contained in the Writing: `Lo, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, choice, precious, and he who is believing on him may not be put to shame;'

^{7 Ref} to you, then, who are believing `is' the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a corner,

^{8 Ref} and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence -- who are stumbling at the word, being unbelieving, -- to which also they were set;

^{9 Ref} and ye `are' a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light;

^{10 Ref} who `were' once not a people, and `are' now the people of God; who had not found kindness, and now have found kindness.

^{11 Ref} Beloved, I call upon `you', as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires, that war against the soul,

^{12 Ref} having your behaviour among the nations right, that in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, of the good works having beheld, they may glorify God in a day of inspection.

^{13 Ref} Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

^{14 Ref} whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

^{15 Ref} because, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;

^{16 Ref} as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;

^{17 Ref} to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.

^{18 Ref} The domestics! be subjecting yourselves in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the cross;

^{19 Ref} for this `is' gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;

^{20 Ref} for what renown `is it', if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure `it'? but if, doing good and suffering `for it', ye do endure, this `is' gracious with God,

^{21 Ref} for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,

^{22 Ref} who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth,

^{23 Ref} who being reviled -- was not reviling again, suffering -- was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously,

^{24 Ref} who our sins himself did bear in his body, upon the tree, that to the sins having died, to the righteousness we may live; by whose stripes ye were healed,

^{25 Ref} for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.