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¹ THEREFORE lay aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil accusations,² And become like newborn babes, and long for the word, as for pure and spiritual milk, that you may grow to salvation by it:³ If so be you have tasted and found out that the LORD is good.

⁴ The one to whom you are coming is the living stone, whom men have rejected, and yet he is chosen and precious with God;⁵ You also, as living stones, build up yourselves and become spiritual temples and holy priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.⁶ For as it is said in the scriptures, Behold, I lay in Sion, a chief corner stone, approved, precious: and he who believes on him shall not be ashamed.⁷ It is to you who believe, therefore, that this honour is given; but to those who are disobedient, he is a stumbling stone and a stone of trouble.⁸ And they stumble over it because they are disobedient to the word for which they were appointed.⁹ But you are a chosen people; ministers to the kingdom, a holy people, a congregation redeemed to proclaim the glories of him who has called you out of darkness to his marvelous light:¹⁰ You, who in the past were not considered a people, but who are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but who now have mercy poured out upon you.¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul;¹² And let your conduct be good before all men, so that those who speak evil words against you, may see your good works and glorify God at the day of trial.

¹³ Submit yourselves to all human authority for God''s sake: whether it be to kings, because of their power,¹⁴ Or to judges because from them officers are sent for the punishment of offenders, and to bestow honour on those who do good.¹⁵ For such is the will of God, that by your good works you may silence the mouth of foolish men, who know not God.¹⁶ Act as free men, and not as men who use their liberty as a cloak for their maliciousness; but as the servants of God.¹⁷ Honour all men. Love your brethren. Fear God. Honour the king.¹⁸ And the servants among you, let them be submissive to their masters with due respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are severe and difficult.¹⁹ For such men have favor before God; because of a good conscience they endure sorrows which come upon them unjustly.²⁰ What praise have they who endure suffering because of their faults? But when you do good, and are made to suffer, and you take it patiently, then your glory is greater with God.²¹ For to this purpose you were called: because Christ also died for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his footsteps.²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:²³ Who, wen he was reviled, he did not revile again: when he suffered he did not threaten, but committed his cause to him who judges righteously:²⁴ And he bore all our sins, and lifted them with his body on the cross, that we being dead to sin, should live through his righteousness: and by his wounds you were healed.²⁵ For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and the Guardian of your souls.