1 L aying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings,

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

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

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

3 i f indeed ye have tasted that the Lord good.

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

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

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

5 y ourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer 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 B ecause 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.

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 T o 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,

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 rock of offence; stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been 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 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;

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 ho once not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found 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 B eloved, I exhort, as strangers and sojourners, to 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 in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through good works, witnessing, glorify God in 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 B e in subjection to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to 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 to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.

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

15 B ecause so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless 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 as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.

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

17 S hew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.

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

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

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

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

20 F or what glory, if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear ? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear, 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 to this have ye been called; for Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow in 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, reviled, reviled not again; suffering, threatened not; but gave over into the hands of him who judges 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 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.

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

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