1 Peter 2:4-25

New International Version

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

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

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

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

“The stone the builders rejected^(J)
has become the cornerstone,”^[c]^(K)

⁸and,

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

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

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

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

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

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

¹⁸Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,^(AJ) not only to those who are good and considerate,^(AK) but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^(AL) ²⁰But 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.^(AM) ²¹To this^(AN) you were called,^(AO) because Christ suffered for you,^(AP) leaving you an example,^(AQ) that you should follow in his steps.

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

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