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.

Having put aside, then, all evil, 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 new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

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

if so be ye did taste that the Lord gracious,

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 -- by men, indeed, having been disapproved of, but with God choice, 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.

and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through 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.

Wherefore, also, it is contained in the Writing: `Lo, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, choice, precious, and he who is believing on him may 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, then, who are believing the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a 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 a rock of offence -- who are stumbling at the word, being unbelieving, -- to which also they were set;

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.

and ye a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous 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, and now the people of God; who had not found kindness, and now have found kindness.

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 call upon, as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires, that 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 behaviour among the nations right, that in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, of the good works having beheld, they may glorify God in a day of inspection.

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 subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

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.

whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

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, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;

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

as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;

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

to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.

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).

The domestics! be subjecting yourselves in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the cross;

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 gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;

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 renown, if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure ? but if, doing good and suffering, ye do endure, this gracious 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 ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,

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

who did not commit sin, nor 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 being reviled -- was not reviling again, suffering -- was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging 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 our sins himself did bear in his body, upon the tree, that to the sins having died, to the righteousness we may live; by whose stripes ye were 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 as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.