1 T herefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

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 l ike newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

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 you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. As Living Stones

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

4 A nd coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

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

5 y ou also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus 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 F or this is contained in Scripture: “ Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

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 T his precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “ The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,”

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 ”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

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 you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous 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 f or you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received 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 B eloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage 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 K eep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Honor Authority

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 S ubmit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

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

14 o r to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

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 such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish 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 ct as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

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

17 H onor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor 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 submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

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 finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

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 credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. Christ Is Our Example

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 F or you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in 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 committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

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

23 a nd while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who 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 a nd He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you 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 you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian 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.