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1 Peter 2-3
New American Standard Bible

As Newborn Babes

2 Therefore, (A)rid yourselves of all [a]malice and all deceit and [b]hypocrisy and [c]envy and all [d](B)slander, 2 (C)and like newborn babies, long for the [e](D)pure [f]milk of the word, so that by it you may (E)grow [g]in respect to salvation, 3 if you have (F)tasted [h](G)the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (H)rejected by people, but is [i]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 (I)you also, as living stones, [j]are being built up as a (J)spiritual house for a holy (K)priesthood, to (L)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [k]Scripture:

“(M)Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a (N)precious cornerstone,
And the one who believes in [l]Him will not be [m]put to shame.”

7 (O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

“(P)A stone which the builders (Q)rejected,
This became the [n]chief cornerstone,”

8 and,

“(R)A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

(S)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (T)and to this they were also appointed.

9 But you are (U)a chosen people, a royal (V)priesthood, a (W)holy nation, (X)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (Y)out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (Z)for 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.

11 (AA)Beloved, (AB)I urge you as (AC)foreigners and strangers to abstain from (AD)fleshly lusts, which wage (AE)war against the soul. 12 (AF)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they (AG)slander you as evildoers, they may [o]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, (AH)glorify God (AI)on the day of [p]visitation.

Honor Authority

13 (AJ)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent [q]by him (AK)for the punishment of evildoers and the (AL)praise of those who do right. 15 For [r](AM)such is the will of God, that by doing right you (AN)silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Act as (AO)free people, and [s]do not use your freedom as a [t]covering for evil, but use it as (AP)bond-servants of God. 17 (AQ)Honor all people, (AR)love the brotherhood, (AS)fear God, (AT)honor the [u]king.

18 (AU)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and (AV)gentle, but also to those who are [v]harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of (AW)conscience toward God a person endures [w]grief when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (AX)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

21 For (AY)you have been called for this purpose, (AZ)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (BA)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 He who (BB)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [x]and while being (BC)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [y](BD)brought our sins in His body up on the [z](BE)cross, so that we (BF)might die to [aa]sin and live for righteousness; (BG)by His [ab]wounds you were (BH)healed. 25 For you were (BI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (BJ)Shepherd and [ac]Guardian of your souls.

Godly Living

3 (BK)In the same way, you wives, (BL)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be (BM)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure [ad]and respectful behavior. 3 (BN)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be (BO)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way the holy women of former times, (BP)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (BQ)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right [ae](BR)without being frightened by any fear.

7 (BS)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with [af](BT)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

8 [ag]To sum up, (BU)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [ah](BV)loving, (BW)compassionate, and (BX)humble; 9 (BY)not returning evil for evil or (BZ)insult for insult, but giving a (CA)blessing instead; for (CB)you were called for the very purpose that you would (CC)inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“(CD)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (CE)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 (CF)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

13 (CG)And who is [ai]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should (CH)suffer for the sake of righteousness, (CI)you [aj]are blessed. (CJ)And do not fear their [ak]intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15 but [al]sanctify (CK)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (CL)to make a [am]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (CM)hope that is in you, but (CN)with gentleness and (CO)respect; 16 [an]and keep a (CP)good conscience so that in the thing in which (CQ)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (CR)it is better, (CS)if [ao]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For (CT)Christ also [ap]suffered for sins (CU)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might (CV)bring us to God, having been put to death (CW)in the flesh, but made alive (CX)in the [aq]spirit; 19 in [ar]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the (CY)patience of God (CZ)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of (DA)the ark, in which a few, that is, (DB)eight (DC)persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 (DD)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(DE)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [as]for a (DF)good conscience—through (DG)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 (DH)who is at the right hand of God, (DI)having gone into heaven, (DJ)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:1 Or wickedness
  2. 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
  3. 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
  4. 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
  5. 1 Peter 2:2 Or unadulterated
  6. 1 Peter 2:2 Or spiritual (Gr logikos) milk, so
  7. 1 Peter 2:2 Or up to salvation
  8. 1 Peter 2:3 Lit that the Lord is kind
  9. 1 Peter 2:4 Lit chosen; or elect
  10. 1 Peter 2:5 Or allow yourselves to be built up; or build yourselves up
  11. 1 Peter 2:6 Or a scripture
  12. 1 Peter 2:6 Or it
  13. 1 Peter 2:6 Or disappointed
  14. 1 Peter 2:7 Lit head of the corner
  15. 1 Peter 2:12 Or as a result of
  16. 1 Peter 2:12 I.e., Christ’s coming again in judgment
  17. 1 Peter 2:14 Lit through
  18. 1 Peter 2:15 Lit so
  19. 1 Peter 2:16 Lit not having
  20. 1 Peter 2:16 I.e., a way to conceal
  21. 1 Peter 2:17 Or emperor
  22. 1 Peter 2:18 Or unscrupulous
  23. 1 Peter 2:19 Or pain
  24. 1 Peter 2:23 Lit who
  25. 1 Peter 2:24 Or offered...up
  26. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  27. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit sins
  28. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wound; or welt
  29. 1 Peter 2:25 Or Bishop, Overseer
  30. 1 Peter 3:2 Lit with respect
  31. 1 Peter 3:6 Lit and are not
  32. 1 Peter 3:7 Lit a weaker vessel
  33. 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
  34. 1 Peter 3:8 I.e., as brothers and sisters
  35. 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
  36. 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
  37. 1 Peter 3:14 Lit fear
  38. 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
  39. 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
  40. 1 Peter 3:16 Lit having a good
  41. 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
  42. 1 Peter 3:18 One early ms died
  43. 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
  44. 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
  45. 1 Peter 3:21 Or from
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1 Peter 2-3
New International Version

2 Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(C) so that by it you may grow up(D) in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(E)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(H) into a spiritual house[a](I) to be a holy priesthood,(J) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(K) 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(L)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](M)

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(N)

“The stone the builders rejected(O)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](P)

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](Q)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(R)

9 But you are a chosen people,(S) a royal priesthood,(T) a holy nation,(U) God’s special possession,(V) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(W) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(X) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(Y) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(Z) to abstain from sinful desires,(AA) which wage war against your soul.(AB) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(AC) and glorify God(AD) on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(AE) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(AF) and to commend those who do right.(AG) 15 For it is God’s will(AH) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(AI) 16 Live as free people,(AJ) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(AK) live as God’s slaves.(AL) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(AM) fear God, honor the emperor.(AN)

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(AO) not only to those who are good and considerate,(AP) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(AQ) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(AR) 21 To this(AS) you were called,(AT) because Christ suffered for you,(AU) leaving you an example,(AV) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(AW)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e](AX)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(AY) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(AZ) Instead, he entrusted himself(BA) to him who judges justly.(BB) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(BC) in his body on the cross,(BD) so that we might die to sins(BE) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(BF) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f](BG) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(BH) and Overseer of your souls.(BI)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(BJ) to your own husbands(BK) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(BL) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(BM) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(BN) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(BO) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(BP) used to adorn themselves.(BQ) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(BR) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands,(BS) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(BT) be sympathetic, love one another,(BU) be compassionate and humble.(BV) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(BW) or insult with insult.(BX) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(BY) because to this(BZ) you were called(CA) so that you may inherit a blessing.(CB) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[g](CC)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(CD) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(CE) “Do not fear their threats[h]; do not be frightened.”[i](CF) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(CG) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(CH) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(CI) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(CJ) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(CK) to suffer for doing good(CL) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(CM) for sins,(CN) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(CO) He was put to death in the body(CP) but made alive in the Spirit.(CQ) 19 After being made alive,[j] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(CR)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(CS) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(CT) In it only a few people, eight in all,(CU) were saved(CV) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(CW) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(CX) toward God.[k] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(CY) 22 who has gone into heaven(CZ) and is at God’s right hand(DA)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(DB)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
  5. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  6. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
  7. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  8. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  9. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  10. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  11. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
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