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The Living Stone and a Holy People

¹ Therefore, rid yourselves of^(C1) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(C2) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,^(F1)(C1) so that you may grow up into your salvation,^{(F2) 3} if you have tasted^(C1) that the Lord is good.^{(F1)(C2) 4} As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by^(F1) God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood^(F1) to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(C1) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined^(C2) for this.

⁹ But you are a chosen race,^(F1)(F2)(F3) a royal priesthood,^(F4)(C1) a holy nation,^(F5)(C2) a people for his possession,^(F6)(C3) so that you may proclaim the praises^(F7)(F8)(C4) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.^{(C5) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy,^(C1) but now you have received mercy.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles^(C1) to abstain^(C2) from sinful^(C3) desires that wage war against the soul.^{(C4) 12} Conduct^(C1) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^(F1) so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.^(C2)

¹³ Submit^(C1) to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor^(F1) as the supreme authority^{(C2) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will^(C1) that you silence the ignorance^(C2) of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,^(C1) but as God’s slaves.^{(C2) 17} Honor everyone. Love^(C1) the brothers and sisters.^(C2) Fear God.^(C3) Honor the emperor.

Submission of Slaves to Masters

¹⁸ Household slaves, submit to your masters^(C1) with all reverence^(C2) not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.^{(C3) 19} For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(C1) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

²¹ For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^(C1) for you, leaving you an example,^(C2) that you should follow^(C3) in his steps. ²² He did not commit sin,^(C1) and no deceit^(C2) was found in his mouth;^{(F1)(C3) 23} when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges^(C1) justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins^(C1) in his body^(C2) on the tree;^(C3) so that, having died to sins,^(C4) we might live for righteousness.^(C5) By his wounds^(F1)(C6) you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray,^(F1)(C1) but you have now returned to the Shepherd^(C2) and Overseer^(F2) of your souls.