2:1 So get rid of¹ all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And² yearn³ like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk,⁴ so that by it you may grow up to⁵ salvation, 2:3 if you have experienced⁶ the Lord’s kindness.⁷

2:4 So as you come to him,⁸ a living stone rejected by men but⁹ chosen and priceless¹⁰ in God’s sight, 2:5 you yourselves as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood and to offer¹¹ spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it says¹² in scripture, “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone,¹³ and whoever believes¹⁴ in him¹⁵ will never¹⁶ be put to shame.”¹⁷ 2:7 So you who believe see¹⁸ his value,¹⁹ but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the²⁰ cornerstone,²¹ 2:8 and a stumbling-stone²² and a rock to trip over.²³ They stumble²⁴ because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.²⁵ 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues²⁶ of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You²⁷ once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy²⁸ but now you have received mercy.

2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct²⁹ among the non-Christians,³⁰ so that though³¹ they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.³²

2:13 Be subject to every human institution³³ for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions³⁴ to punish wrongdoers and praise³⁵ those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you³⁶ to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 2:16 Live³⁷ as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.³⁸ 2:17 Honor all people, love your fellow Christians,³⁹ fear God, honor the king.

2:18 Slaves,⁴⁰ be subject⁴¹ to your masters with all reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse. 2:19 For this finds God’s favor,⁴² if because of conscience toward God⁴³ someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.⁴⁴ 2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He⁴⁵ committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.⁴⁶ 2:23 When he was maligned, he⁴⁷ did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened⁴⁸ no retaliation,⁴⁹ but committed himself to God⁵⁰ who judges justly. 2:24 He⁵¹ himself bore our sins⁵² in his body on the tree, that we may leave sin behind and live for righteousness. By his⁵³ wounds⁵⁴ you were healed.⁵⁵ 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep⁵⁶ but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.