the Fourth Week of Advent
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New American Standard Bible
1 Peter 2
As Newborn Babes
1 Therefore, (C1)rid yourselves of all (F1)malice and all deceit and (F2)hypocrisy and (F2)envy and all (F2)(C2)slander,2 (C1)and like newborn babies, long for the (F1)(C2)pure (F2)milk of the word, so that by it you may (C3)grow (F3)in respect to salvation,3 if you have (C1)tasted (F1)(C2)the kindness of the Lord.
As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (C1)rejected by people, but is (F1)choice and precious in the sight of God,5 (C1)you also, as living stones, (F1)are being built up as a (C2)spiritual house for a holy (C3)priesthood, to (C4)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 For this is contained in (F1)Scripture:
"(C1)BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A (C2)PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE,
AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN (F2)HIM WILL NOT BE (F3)PUT TO SHAME."
"(C2)A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS (C3)REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE (F1)CHIEF CORNERSTONE,"
"(C1)A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";
(C2)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (C3)and to this they were also appointed.
9 But you are (C1)A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal (C2)PRIESTHOOD, A (C3)HOLY NATION, (C4)A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (C5)out of darkness into His marvelous light;10 (C1)for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
11 (C1)Beloved, (C2)I urge you as (C3)foreigners and strangers to abstain from (C4)fleshly lusts, which wage (C5)war against the soul.12 (C1)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they (C2)slander you as evildoers, they may (F1)because of your good deeds, as they observe them, (C3)glorify God (C4)on the day of (F2)visitation.
Honor Authority
13 (C1)Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,14 or to governors as sent (F1)by him (C1)for the punishment of evildoers and the (C2)praise of those who do right.15 For (F1)(C1)such is the will of God, that by doing right you (C2)silence the ignorance of foolish people.16 Act as (C1)free people, and (F1)do not use your freedom as a (F2)covering for evil, but use it as (C2)bond-servants of God.17 (C1)Honor all people, (C2)love the brotherhood, (C3)fear God, (C4)honor the (F1)king.
18 (C1)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and (C2)gentle, but also to those who are (F1)harsh.19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of (C1)conscience toward God a person endures (F1)grief when suffering unjustly.20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (C1)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For (C1)you have been called for this purpose, (C2)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (C3)an example, so that you would follow in His steps,22 HE WHO (C1)COMMITTED NO sin, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT found IN HIS MOUTH;23 (F1)and while being (C1)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;24 and He Himself (F1)(C1)brought our sins in His body up on the (F2)(C2)cross, so that we (C3)might die to (F3)sin and live for righteousness; (C4)by His (F4)wounds you were (C5)healed.25 For you were (C1)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (C2)Shepherd and (F1)Guardian of your souls.New American Standard Bible
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