The Living Stone and a Holy People

Therefore, rid yourselves of(A) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.(B) Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,[a](C) so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted(D) that the Lord is good.[b](E) As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by[c] God— you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood[d] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God(F) through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,(G)
a chosen and honored[e] cornerstone,(H)
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.[f](I)

So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone,[g](J)

and

A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over.[h](K)

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined(L) for this.

But you are a chosen race,[i][j](M) a royal priesthood,[k](N) a holy nation,[l](O) a people for his possession,[m](P) so that you may proclaim the praises[n][o](Q) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Or desire pure spiritual milk
  2. 2:3 Ps 34:8
  3. 2:4 Or precious to
  4. 2:5 Or you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood
  5. 2:6 Or precious
  6. 2:6 Is 28:16 LXX
  7. 2:7 Ps 118:22
  8. 2:8 Is 8:14
  9. 2:9 Or generation, or nation
  10. 2:9 Dt 7:6; 10:15; Is 43:20 LXX
  11. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX; Is 61:6
  12. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX
  13. 2:9 Ex 19:5; 23:22 LXX; Dt 4:20; 7:6; Is 43:21 LXX
  14. 2:9 Or the mighty deeds
  15. 2:9 Is 42:12; 43:21

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

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— 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) 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)

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)

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)

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)

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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