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1 Peter 2
New Living Translation
1 Peter 2
New Living Translation
2 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Living Stones for God’s House
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[b]
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”[c]
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.[d] But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”[e]
8 And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”[f]
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”[h]
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.[i]
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[j] Fear God, and respect the king.
Slaves
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.[k] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[l] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.[m]
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls.
Footnotes
- 2:5 Greek holy priesthood.
- 2:6a Greek in Zion.
- 2:6b Isa 28:16 (Greek version).
- 2:7a Or Yes, for you who believe, there is honor.
- 2:7b Ps 118:22.
- 2:8 Isa 8:14.
- 2:9 Greek a royal priesthood.
- 2:10 Hos 1:6, 9; 2:23.
- 2:12 Or on the day of visitation.
- 2:17 Greek love the brotherhood.
- 2:18 Or because you fear God; Greek reads in all fear.
- 2:21 Some manuscripts read died.
- 2:22 Isa 53:9.
1 Peter 2
New International Version
1 Peter 2
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)
8 and,
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.
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)
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
- 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
- 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
- 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
- 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
- 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
1 Peter 2
New American Standard Bible
1 Peter 2
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,
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.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 2:1 Or wickedness
- 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
- 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
- 1 Peter 2:1 plural nouns
- 1 Peter 2:2 Or unadulterated
- 1 Peter 2:2 Or spiritual (Gr logikos) milk, so
- 1 Peter 2:2 Or up to salvation
- 1 Peter 2:3 Lit that the Lord is kind
- 1 Peter 2:4 Lit chosen; or elect
- 1 Peter 2:5 Or allow yourselves to be built up; or build yourselves up
- 1 Peter 2:6 Or a scripture
- 1 Peter 2:6 Or it
- 1 Peter 2:6 Or disappointed
- 1 Peter 2:7 Lit head of the corner
- 1 Peter 2:12 Or as a result of
- 1 Peter 2:12 I.e., Christ’s coming again in judgment
- 1 Peter 2:14 Lit through
- 1 Peter 2:15 Lit so
- 1 Peter 2:16 Lit not having
- 1 Peter 2:16 I.e., a way to conceal
- 1 Peter 2:17 Or emperor
- 1 Peter 2:18 Or unscrupulous
- 1 Peter 2:19 Or pain
- 1 Peter 2:23 Lit who
- 1 Peter 2:24 Or offered...up
- 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
- 1 Peter 2:24 Lit sins
- 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wound; or welt
- 1 Peter 2:25 Or Bishop, Overseer
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.