1 P ut out of your life hate and lying. Do not pretend to be someone you are not. Do not always want something someone else has. Do not say bad things about other people.

Por tanto, desechando toda malicia, y todo engaño, e hipocresías, y envidias y toda difamación,

2 A s new babies want milk, you should want to drink the pure milk which is God’s Word so you will grow up and be saved from the punishment of sin.

deseen como niños recién nacidos, la leche pura de la palabra, para que por ella crezcan para salvación,

3 I f you have tasted of the Lord, you know how good He is. The Living Stone

si es que han probado la bondad del Señor.

4 C ome to Christ as to a living stone. Men have put Him aside, but He was chosen by God and is of great worth in the sight of God.

Y viniendo a El, como a una piedra viva, desechada por los hombres, pero escogida y preciosa delante de Dios,

5 Y ou are to be as living stones in the building God is making also. You are His religious leaders giving yourselves to God through Jesus Christ. This kind of gift pleases God.

también ustedes, como piedras vivas, sean edificados como casa espiritual para un sacerdocio santo, para ofrecer sacrificios espirituales aceptables a Dios por medio de Jesucristo.

6 T he Holy Writings say, “See, I lay down in Jerusalem a Stone of great worth, worth far more than any amount of money. Anyone who puts his trust in Him will not be ashamed.”

Pues esto se encuentra en la Escritura: “ Yo, pongo en Sion una piedra escogida, una preciosa piedra angular, y el que crea en El no sera avergonzado.”

7 T his Stone is of great worth to you who have your trust in Him. But to those who have not put their trust in Him, the Holy Writings say, “The Stone which the workmen put aside has become the most important part of the building.”

Este precioso valor es, pues, para ustedes los que creen; pero para los que no creen, “ La piedra que desecharon los constructores, esa, en piedra angular se ha convertido,”

8 T he Holy Writings say, also, “Christ is the Stone that some men will trip over and the Rock over which they will fall.” When they do not obey the Word of God, they trip over it. This is what happens to such men.

y, “piedra de tropiezo y roca de escandalo.” Pues ellos tropiezan porque son desobedientes a la palabra, y para ello estaban también destinados.

9 B ut you are a chosen group of people. You are the King’s religious leaders. You are a holy nation. You belong to God. He has done this for you so you can tell others how God has called you out of darkness into His great light.

Pero ustedes son linaje escogido, real sacerdocio, nación santa, pueblo adquirido para posesión de Dios, a fin de que anuncien las virtudes de Aquél que los llamó de las tinieblas a Su luz admirable.

10 A t one time you were a people of no use. Now you are the people of God. At one time you did not have loving-kindness. Now you have God’s loving-kindness.

Ustedes en otro tiempo no eran pueblo, pero ahora son el pueblo de Dios; no habían recibido misericordia, pero ahora han recibido misericordia. Conducta de los Creyentes en el Mundo

11 D ear friends, your real home is not here on earth. You are strangers here. I ask you to keep away from all the sinful desires of the flesh. These things fight to get hold of your soul.

Amados, les ruego como a extranjeros y peregrinos, que se abstengan de las pasiones carnales que combaten contra el alma.

12 W hen you are around people who do not know God, be careful how you act. Even if they talk against you as wrong-doers, in the end they will give thanks to God for your good works when Christ comes again. Obey the Leaders

Mantengan entre los Gentiles (incrédulos) una conducta irreprochable, a fin de que en aquello que les calumnian como malhechores, ellos, por razón de las buenas obras de ustedes, al considerar las, glorifiquen a Dios en el día de la visitación (del juicio).

13 O bey the head leader of the country and all other leaders over you. This pleases the Lord.

Sométanse, por causa del Señor, a toda institución humana, ya sea al rey como autoridad,

14 O bey the men who work for them. God sends them to punish those who do wrong and to show respect to those who do right.

o a los gobernadores como enviados por él para castigo de los malhechores y alabanza de los que hacen el bien.

15 T his is what God wants. When you do right, you stop foolish men from saying bad things.

Porque ésta es la voluntad de Dios: que haciendo bien, ustedes hagan enmudecer la ignorancia de los hombres insensatos.

16 O bey as men who are free but do not use this to cover up sin. Live as servants owned by God at all times.

Anden como libres, pero no usen la libertad como pretexto para la maldad, sino empléenla como siervos de Dios.

17 S how respect to all men. Love the Christians. Honor God with love and fear. Respect the head leader of the country. Servants

Honren a todos, amen a los hermanos, teman (reverencien) a Dios, honren al rey. Ejemplo de Cristo como Siervo

18 S ervants, you are to respect your owners and do what they say. Do this if you have a good and kind owner. You must do it even if your owner is hard to work for.

Siervos, estén sujetos a sus amos con todo respeto, no sólo a los que son buenos y afables, sino también a los que son insoportables.

19 T his shows you have received loving-favor when you are even punished for doing what is right because of your trust in God.

Porque esto halla gracia, si por causa de la conciencia ante Dios, alguien sobrelleva penalidades sufriendo injustamente.

20 W hat good is it if, when you are beaten for doing something wrong, you do not try to get out of it? But if you are beaten when you have done what is right, and do not try to get out of it, God is pleased.

Pues ¿qué mérito hay, si cuando ustedes pecan y son tratados con severidad lo soportan con paciencia? Pero si cuando hacen lo bueno sufren por ello y lo soportan con paciencia, esto halla gracia con Dios.

21 T hese things are all a part of the Christian life to which you have been called. Christ suffered for us. This shows us we are to follow in His steps.

Porque para este propósito han sido llamados, pues también Cristo sufrió por ustedes, dejándoles ejemplo para que sigan Sus pasos,

22 H e never sinned. No lie or bad talk ever came from His lips.

el cual no cometio pecado, ni engaño alguno se hallo en Su boca;

23 W hen people spoke against Him, He never spoke back. When He suffered from what people did to Him, He did not try to pay them back. He left it in the hands of the One Who is always right in judging.

y quien cuando Lo ultrajaban, no respondía ultrajando. Cuando padecía, no amenazaba, sino que se encomendaba a Aquél que juzga con justicia.

24 H e carried our sins in His own body when He died on a cross. In doing this, we may be dead to sin and alive to all that is right and good. His wounds have healed you!

El mismo llevó (cargó) nuestros pecados en Su cuerpo sobre la cruz, a fin de que muramos al pecado y vivamos a la justicia, porque por Sus heridas fueron ustedes sanados.

25 Y ou were like lost sheep. But now you have come back to Him Who is your Shepherd and the One Who cares for your soul.

Pues ustedes andaban descarriados como ovejas, pero ahora han vuelto al Pastor y Guardián (Supervisor) de sus almas.