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Therefore put ye away all malice, and all guile, and feignings, and envies, and all backbitings; [Therefore putting away all malice, and all guile, and simulations, or feignings, and envies, and all detractions;]

as now born young children, reasonable, without guile, covet ye milk [of full teaching], that in it ye wax into health;

if nevertheless ye have tasted, that the Lord is sweet.

And approach ye to him, that is a living stone, and reproved of men [To whom ye going nigh, a quick stone, reproved soothly of men], but chosen of God, and honoured;

and yourselves as quick stones be ye above builded [and yourselves as quick stones be above builded] into spiritual houses, and an holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

For which thing the scripture saith, Lo! I shall set in Sion the highest corner stone, chosen and precious [For which thing the scripture holdeth, Lo! I shall put in Sion the highest stone, a corner stone, chosen, precious]; and he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.

Therefore honour to you that believe; but to men that believe not, the stone whom the builders reproved, this is made into the head of the corner;

and the stone of hurting, and the stone of stumbling, to them that offend to the word, neither believe it, in which they be set.[a]

But ye be a chosen kin, a kingly priesthood, holy folk, a people of purchasing, that ye tell the virtues of him, that called you from darknesses into his wonderful light.

10 Which sometime were not a people of God, but now ye be the people of God; which had not mercy, but now ye have mercy.

11 Most dear, I beseech you, as comelings and pilgrims, to abstain you from fleshly desires, that fight against the soul;

12 and have ye your conversation good among heathen men [having your conversation, or life, good among heathen men], that in that thing that they backbite of you, as of misdoers, they behold you of good works, and glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Be ye subject to each creature of man, for God; either to the king, as to him that is higher in state [as precellent, or more worthy in state],

14 either to dukes, as to those that be sent of him to the vengeance of misdoers, and to the praising of good men [forsooth to the praising of good deeds, or good men].

15 For so is the will of God, that ye do well, and make the unknowingness of unprudent men to be dumb. [For so is the will of God, that ye doing well, make the unknowingness of unwise men to be dumb.]

16 As free men, and not as having freedom the covering of malice, but as the servants of God.

17 Honour ye all men, love ye brotherhood, dread ye God, honour ye the king.

18 Servants, be ye subject in all dread to lords, not only to good and to mild [not only to good and mild], but also to tyrants.

19 For this is grace, if for conscience of God any man suffereth heavinesses, and suffereth unjustly. [Forsooth this is grace, if for conscience of God any man suffereth sorrows, or heavinesses, suffering unjustly.]

20 For what grace is it, if ye sin, and be buffeted, and suffer? But if ye do well, and suffer patiently, this is grace with God.

21 For to this thing ye be called. For also Christ suffered for us, and left ensample to you [leaving to you example], that ye follow the steps of him.

22 Which did not sin, neither guile was found in his mouth.

23 And when he was cursed, he cursed not [Which, when he was cursed, cursed not]; when he suffered, he menaced not; but he betook himself to him, that deemed him unjustly.

24 And he himself bare our sins in his body on a tree [Which he himself suffered, or bare, our sins in his body on the tree], that we be dead to sins, and live to rightwiseness, by whose wan wound ye be healed.

25 For ye were as sheep erring, but ye be now turned to the shepherd, and bishop of your souls.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:8 and the stone of hurting, and the stone of offence, to them that offend by word, neither believe, in which and they be put.

He exhorts the people to lay aside all vice, shows that Christ is the foundation they have built upon, and prays them to abstain from fleshly lusts and to obey worldly rulers. How servants should conduct themselves toward their masters. He exhorts them to suffer after the example of Christ.

Therefore, lay aside all vice, and all guile and dissimulation and envy, and all backbiting. And as newborn babes, desire the milk (not of the body, but of the soul) that is without corruption, so that you may grow therein – if it so be that you have tasted that the Lord is sweet, to whom you come as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God, and precious.

And you, as living stones, are made a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Of this it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I put in Zion a head cornerstone, elect and precious; and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

To you therefore who believe, he is precious. But to those who do not believe, the stone which the builders refused is made the head stone in the corner, and a stone to stumble at, and a rock to offend those who stumble at the word and do not believe that whereon they were set.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and his own special people, in order that you should show forth the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light – 10 you who in time past were not a people, yet are now the people of God; who were not under mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloveds, I beseech you: as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul. 12 And see that you lead virtuous lives among the Gentiles, so that those who backbite you as evil-doers may see your good works and praise God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every human authority, for the Lord’s sake – whether it be to the king as to the chief head, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, but for the praise of those who do well. 15 For so is the will of God, so that you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – 16 as free, and not as having freedom for a cloak of evil, but even as the servants of God.

17 Honour all people. Love brotherly fellowship. Fear God, and honour the king.

18 Servants, obey your masters with all fear, not only if they are good and kind, but also though they be ill-natured. 19 For it is meritorious if a person for conscience towards God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For how is it praiseworthy if when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? But if when you do well you suffer wrong, and take it patiently, then is there favour with God.

21 For to this indeed you have been called. For Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps – 22 who did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth; 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed the cause to him who judges righteously. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we may be delivered from sin and live in righteousness; by his stripes you were healed. 25 For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.