1 Peter 2 (New American Standard Bible)

1 Peter 2

As Newborn Babes

 ¹Therefore, ^(A)putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all ^(B)slander,

 ^2(C)like newborn babies, long for the ^(D)pure milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(E)grow in respect to salvation,

 ³if you have ^(F)tasted ^(G)the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

 ⁴And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(H)rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

 ^5(I)you also, as living stones, are being built up as a ^(J)spiritual house for a holy ^(K)priesthood, to ^(L)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 ⁶For this is contained in Scripture:
         "^(M)BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A ^(N)PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
         AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

 ^7(O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
         "^(P)THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS ^(Q)REJECTED,
         THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"

 ⁸and,
         "^(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 doom they were also appointed.

 ⁹But you are ^(U)A CHOSEN RACE, 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)aliens 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 because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(AH)glorify God ^(AI)in the day of ^[a]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,

 ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him ^(AK)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(AL)praise of those who do right.

 ¹⁵For ^(AM)such is the will of God that by doing right you may ^(AN)silence the ignorance of foolish men.

 ¹⁶Act as ^(AO)free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(AP)bondslaves of God.

 ^17(AQ)Honor all people, ^(AR)love the brotherhood, ^(AS)fear God, ^(AT)honor the king.

 ^18(AU)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(AV)gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

 ¹⁹For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(AW)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

 ²⁰For 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

 ²¹For ^(AY)you have been called for this purpose, ^(AZ)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(BA)an example for you to follow in His steps,

 ²²WHO ^(BB)COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;

 ²³and while being ^(BC)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 ²⁴and He Himself ^(BD)bore our sins in His body on the ^(BE)cross, so that we ^(BF)might die to sin and live to righteousness; for ^(BG)by His wounds you were ^(BH)healed.

 ²⁵For you were ^(BI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(BJ)Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.