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¹ Putting away, therefore, all vice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envyings and all detractions,² As new-born babes, for the pure milk that is for the mind, eagerly crave, that, thereby, ye may grow unto salvation: - ³ If ye have tasted for yourselves that, gracious, is the Lord, -

⁴ Unto whom coming near, as unto a living stone - by men, indeed, rejected, but, with God, chosen, held in honour,⁵ Yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well-pleasing unto God through Jesus Christ;⁶ Inasmuch as it is contained in scripture - Lo! I lay in Zion an outmost corner stone, chosen, held in honour, and, he that resteth faith thereupon, shall not be put to shame.⁷ Unto you, then, is the honour - unto you who believe; but, unto such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, - The same, hath become head of the corner,⁸ And a stone to strike against, and a rock to stumble over: Who stumble because, unto the word, they do not yield, - unto which also they have been appointed;⁹ But, ye, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a peculiar treasure, that, the excellences, ye may tell forth, of him who, out of darkness, hath called you into his marvellous light: - ¹⁰ Who, at one time, were a No-people, but, now, are a people of God, - who had not been enjoying mercy, but, now, have received mercy.¹¹ Beloved! I exhort you, as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly covetings, such as take the field against the soul;¹² Having, your behaviour among the nations, honourable, - in order that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, owing to the honourable works they are permitted to behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹³ Submit yourselves unto every human creation, for the Lord's sake, - whether unto a king, as one that protecteth,¹⁴ Or unto governors, as, through him, sent - for vengeance on evil-doers, but praise to such as do good;¹⁵ Because, so, is the will of God, - by doing good, to be putting to silence, the ignorance of heedless men:¹⁶ As free, yet, not as a cloak of vice, holding your freedom, but, as God's servants.¹⁷ Unto all men, give honour, unto the brotherhood, shew love, unto God, give reverence, the king, hold in honour.¹⁸ Ye domestics, submitting yourselves, in all reverence, unto your masters, - not only unto the good and considerate, but also unto the perverse;¹⁹ For, this, is thankworthy, - If, for the sake of conscience towards God, one beareth griefs, suffering wrongfully, - ²⁰ For what sort of honour is it - if, committing sin, and being buffeted, ye endure it? But, if, doing good, and suffering, ye endure it, this, is thankworthy with God.²¹ For, hereunto, have ye been called; because, Christ also, suffered in your behalf, unto you, leaving behind a pattern, that ye might follow in his steps:²² Who did not, a sin, commit, neither was deceit found in his mouth, - ²³ Who, being reviled, was not reviling again, suffering, he was not threatening, but was making surrender unto him that judgeth righteously, - ²⁴ Who, our sins, himself, bare up, in his body, unto the tree, in order that we, from our sins getting away, in righteousness, might live, - by whose stripes, ye have been healed;²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray, but have now turned back unto the shepherd and overseer of your souls.