1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (Eph 4:22; Eph 4:25; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8)2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— (Mt 18:3; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12)3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (Ps 34:8; Heb 6:5)4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (1Pe 2:6)5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (Isa 56:7; Mal 1:11; Ro 12:1; Ro 15:16; 1Co 3:9; Eph 2:20; Php 4:18; Heb 3:4; Heb 3:6; Heb 13:15; 1Pe 2:9)6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Isa 28:16; Ro 9:33; Ro 10:11)7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[1] (Ps 118:22; 2Co 2:16)8and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (Isa 8:14; Ro 9:22; Ro 9:33; Jud 1:4)9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (Ex 19:5; Ex 19:6; De 7:6; De 10:15; Ps 36:9; Isa 42:16; Isa 43:20; Isa 43:21; Isa 61:6; Isa 66:21; Mal 3:17; Ac 26:18; Re 1:6; Re 5:10)10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (Ho 1:6; Ho 1:9; Ho 2:23; Ro 9:25; Ro 10:19)11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (Le 25:23; Ro 13:14; Ga 5:24; Jas 4:1)12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (Isa 10:3; Mt 5:16; Lu 19:44; 2Co 8:21; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24; Php 2:15; Tit 2:8; 1Pe 3:16)
Submission to Authority
13Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,[2] whether it be to the emperor[3] as supreme, (Ro 13:1; Tit 3:1)14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (Ro 13:3; Ro 13:4)15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1Pe 2:12)16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[4] of God. (Ro 6:22; 1Co 7:22; Jas 1:25)17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (Pr 24:21; Ro 12:10; Ro 13:7; Heb 13:1)18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. (Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; 1Ti 6:1; Tit 2:9)19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (1Pe 3:14; 1Pe 3:17; 1Pe 4:16)20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (1Pe 3:17; 1Pe 4:13; 1Pe 4:16)21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (Mt 11:29; Ac 14:22; 1Pe 2:20; 1Pe 3:9)22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (Isa 53:9; 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1Jo 3:5)23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (Isa 53:7; Lu 23:46; Heb 12:3; 1Pe 3:9)24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (Isa 53:4; Isa 53:5; Isa 53:11; Mt 8:17; Ro 6:2; Ro 6:11; Ro 6:13; Ro 7:4; Ro 7:6; Col 2:20; Col 3:3; Heb 9:28)25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (Ps 119:176; Isa 53:6; Eze 34:6; Lu 15:4; Joh 10:11)
1 Peter 2
New International Version
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The living Stone and a chosen people
4As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him –5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[1] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ (Isa 28:16)7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ (Ps 118:22)8and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for. (Isa 8:14)9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Living godly lives in a pagan society
11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.18Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.22‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ (Isa 53:9)23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.24‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’25For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’[2] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (Isa 53:4; Isa 53:5; Isa 53:6)
1 Peter 2
King James Version
1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 2
New International Reader’s Version
1So get rid of every kind of evil, and stop telling lies. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. Stop wanting what others have, and don’t speak against one another.2Like newborn babies, you should long for the pure milk of God’s word. It will help you grow up as believers.3You can do this now that you have tasted how good the Lord is.
The living Stone and a chosen people
4Christ is the living Stone. People did not accept him, but God chose him. God places the highest value on him.5You also are like living stones. As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done.6In Scripture it says, ‘Look! I am placing a stone in Zion. It is a chosen and very valuable stone. It is the most important stone in the building. The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ (Isa 28:16)7This stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders did not accept has become the most important stone of all.’ (Ps 118:22)8And, ‘It is a stone that causes people to trip. It is a rock that makes them fall.’ They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them. (Isa 8:14)9But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.10Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.
Living godly lives among people who don’t believe
11Dear friends, you are outsiders and those who wander in this world. So I’m asking you not to give in to your sinful desires. They fight against your soul.12People who don’t believe might say you are doing wrong. But lead good lives among them. Then they will see your good deeds. And they will give glory to God on the day he comes to judge.13Follow the lead of every human authority. Do this for the Lord’s sake. Obey the emperor. He is the highest authority.14Obey the governors. The emperor sends them to punish those who do wrong. He also sends them to praise those who do right.15By doing good you will put a stop to the talk of foolish people. They don’t know what they are saying.16Live as free people. But don’t use your freedom to cover up evil. Live as people who are God’s slaves.17Show proper respect to everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respect for God. Honour the emperor.18Slaves, obey your masters out of deep respect for God. Obey not only those who are good and kind. Obey also those who are not kind.19Suppose a person suffers pain unfairly because they want to obey God. This is worthy of praise.20But suppose you receive a beating for doing wrong, and you put up with it. Will anyone honour you for this? Of course not. But suppose you suffer for doing good, and you put up with it. God will praise you for this.21You were chosen to do good even if you suffer. That’s because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example that he expects you to follow.22Scripture says, ‘He didn’t commit any sin. No lies ever came out of his mouth.’ (Isa 53:9)23People shouted at him and made fun of him. But he didn’t do the same thing back to them. When he suffered, he didn’t say he would make them suffer. Instead, he trusted in the God who judges fairly.24‘He himself carried our sins’ in his body on the cross. He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. ‘His wounds have healed you.’ (Isa 53:5)25‘You were like sheep wandering away.’ But now you have returned to the Shepherd. He is the one who watches over your souls. (Isa 53:6)