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)

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(A) and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(B) means salvation,^(C) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(D) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(E) people distort,^(F) as they do the other Scriptures,^(G) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(H) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(I) of the lawless^(J) and fall from your secure position.^{(K) 18} But grow in the grace^(L) and knowledge^(M) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(N) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(O)