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1 Peter 2:5-20
New International Reader's Version
1 Peter 2:5-20
New International Reader's Version
5 You also are like living stones. As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done. 6 In Scripture it says,
“Look! I am placing a stone in Zion.
It is a chosen and very valuable stone.
It is the most important stone in the building.
The one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16)
7 This stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe,
“The stone the builders did not accept
has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22)
8 And,
“It is a stone that causes people to trip.
It is a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14)
They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.
9 But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.
Living Godly Lives Among People Who Don’t Believe
11 Dear friends, you are outsiders and those who wander in this world. So I’m asking you not to give in to your sinful desires. They fight against your soul. 12 People who don’t believe might say you are doing wrong. But lead good lives among them. Then they will see your good deeds. And they will give glory to God on the day he comes to judge.
13 Follow the lead of every human authority. Do this for the Lord’s sake. Obey the emperor. He is the highest authority. 14 Obey the governors. The emperor sends them to punish those who do wrong. He also sends them to praise those who do right. 15 By doing good you will put a stop to the talk of foolish people. They don’t know what they are saying. 16 Live as free people. But don’t use your freedom to cover up evil. Live as people who are God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respect for God. Honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, obey your masters out of deep respect for God. Obey not only those who are good and kind. Obey also those who are not kind. 19 Suppose a person suffers pain unfairly because they want to obey God. This is worthy of praise. 20 But suppose you receive a beating for doing wrong, and you put up with it. Will anyone honor you for this? Of course not. But suppose you suffer for doing good, and you put up with it. God will praise you for this.
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1 Peter 2:5-20
New International Version
1 Peter 2:5-20
New International Version
5 you also, like living stones, are being built(A) into a spiritual house[a](B) to be a holy priesthood,(C) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(D) 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,(E)
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[b](F)
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(G)
8 and,
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(K)
9 But you are a chosen people,(L) a royal priesthood,(M) a holy nation,(N) God’s special possession,(O) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(P) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(Q) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends,(R) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(S) to abstain from sinful desires,(T) which wage war against your soul.(U) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(V) and glorify God(W) on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(X) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(Y) and to commend those who do right.(Z) 15 For it is God’s will(AA) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(AB) 16 Live as free people,(AC) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(AD) live as God’s slaves.(AE) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(AF) fear God, honor the emperor.(AG)
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(AH) not only to those who are good and considerate,(AI) 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.(AJ) 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.(AK)
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
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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