1 ¶ Having therefore left all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all murmurings,

So 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.

2 a s newborn babes, desire the rational milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby in health;

Like 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,

3 i f so be ye have tasted that the Lord is benevolent;

Since you have tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.

4 ¶ coming unto whom (is the living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious),

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

5 y e also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, well pleasing to God by Jesus, the Christ.

and, 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.

6 T herefore, also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion the chief corner stone, chosen, precious; and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.

For 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.

7 U nto you, therefore, who believe he is precious; but unto those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

To 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,

8 a nd a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, even to those who stumble at the word, not obeying in that for which they were ordained.

And, 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.

9 B ut ye are the chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, that ye should show forth the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

But 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.

10 Y e who in the time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, who in the time past had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Once 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.

11 D early beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from the carnal desires which war against the soul

Beloved, 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.

12 a nd have your honest conversation among the Gentiles, so that, in that which they murmur about you as of evildoers, having witnessed your good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Conduct 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].

13 ¶ Therefore, be subject to every human ordinance that is of the Lord, whether it be to a king or to a superior,

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

14 a nd unto governors as unto those that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those that do well.

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

15 F or this is the will of God, that in well doing ye may silence the ignorance of vain men,

For 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.

16 a s being free, yet not using your liberty to cover maliciousness, but as slaves of God.

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

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

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

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

household 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).

19 F or this is due to grace, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

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

20 F or what glory is it if, when ye are 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 due to grace from God.

what 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.

21 B ecause for this were ye called: for the Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps

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

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

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

23 w ho, when he was cursed, did not return the curse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judges righteously;

When 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.

24 h e himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose wound ye were healed.

He 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.

25 F or ye were as sheep that had gone astray, but are now converted unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

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