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2:1 Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings,

2:2 as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,

2:3 if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] good.

2:4 To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious,

2:5 yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

2:6 Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

2:7 To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner,

2:8 and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed.

2:9 But *ye* [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;

2:10 who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.

2:11 Beloved, I exhort [you], as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

2:12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify God in [the] day of visitation.

2:13 Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,

2:14 or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.

2:15 Because so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;

2:16 as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.

2:17 Shew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.

2:18 Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill- tempered.

2:19 For this [is] acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.

2:20 For what glory [is it], if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear [it]? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear [it], this is acceptable with God.

2:21 For to this have ye been called; for Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow in his steps:

2:22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;

2:23 who, [when] reviled, reviled not again; [when] suffering, threatened not; but gave [himself] over into the hands of him who judges righteously;

2:24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, in order that, being dead to sins, we may live to righteousness: by whose stripes ye have been healed.

2:25 For ye were going astray as sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

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