The Holy Bible
King James Bible 2016
| 2:1 | Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, |
| 2:2 | as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, |
| 2:3 | if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. |
| 2:4 | Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, |
| 2:5 | you also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. |
| 2:6 | Therefore it is also contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will not be put to shame." |
| 2:7 | Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the head cornerstone," |
| 2:8 | and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense," which is to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which they are also appointed. |
| 2:9 | But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; |
| 2:10 | who once were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. |
| 2:11 | Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, |
| 2:12 | having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that while they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. |
| 2:13 | Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, |
| 2:14 | 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. |
| 2:15 | Because, this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, |
| 2:16 | as free, yet not using your liberty as a cover for maliciousness, but as the servants of God. |
| 2:17 | Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Reverence God. Honor the king. |
| 2:18 | Servants, be submissive to your masters with all reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. |
| 2:19 | Because, this is admirable, if because of conscience toward God a person endures grief, suffering wrongfully. |
| 2:20 | Because, what glory is it if, when you are punished for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is acceptable before God. |
| 2:21 | Because, to this were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: |
| 2:22 | "Who did no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; |
| 2:23 | who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; |
| 2:24 | who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. |
| 2:25 | Because, you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. |
