1 W herefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

2 a s newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

3 i f so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

4 T o whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

5 y e also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 W herefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

7 U nto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 a nd a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

9 B ut ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10 w hich in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 D early beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 h aving your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 S ubmit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

14 o r unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

15 F or so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 a s free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

17 H onour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 S ervants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

19 F or this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

20 F or what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

21 F or even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

22 w ho did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

23 w ho, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

24 w ho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

25 F or ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.