1 S o be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.

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

2 L ike newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto salvation,

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

3 S ince you have tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.

if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord good.

4 C ome to Him Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen precious in God’s sight.

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

5 a nd, like living stones, be yourselves built a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

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.

6 F or thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen ( honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him shall never be disappointed or put to shame.

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.

7 T o you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve, The Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,

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

8 A nd, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve Word, as those were destined (appointed) to do.

and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed.

9 B ut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

But ye 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;

10 O nce you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.

who once not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.

11 B eloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.

Beloved, I exhort, as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 C onduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, they may by witnessing your good deeds glorify God in the day of inspection '> when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].

having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through good works, witnessing, glorify God in day of visitation.

13 B e submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Be in subjection to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to king as supreme,

14 O r to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.

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

15 F or it is God’s will and intention that by doing right should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.

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

16 a s free people, without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but as servants of God.

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

17 S how respect for all men. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.

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

18 h ousehold servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate and reasonable, but also to those who are surly (overbearing, unjust, and crooked).

Servants, subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered.

19 F or one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering.

For this acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.

20 w hat kind of glory if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God.

For what glory, if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear ? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear, this is acceptable with God.

21 F or even to this were you called. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.

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:

22 H e was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips.

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

23 W hen He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; He was abused and suffered, He made no threats; but he trusted to Him Who judges fairly.

who, reviled, reviled not again; suffering, threatened not; but gave over into the hands of him who judges righteously;

24 H e personally bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

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.

25 F or you were going astray like sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian ( the Bishop) of your souls.

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