¹⁷ If you ^(A)address as Father the One who ^(B)impartially ^(C)judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^(D)in fear during the time of your ^(E)stay on earth; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not ^[a](F)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(G)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious ^(H)blood, as of a ^(I)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was ^(J)foreknown before ^(K)the foundation of the world, but has ^(L)appeared ^[b]in these last times ^(M)for the sake of you ²¹ who through Him are ^(N)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(O)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(P)hope are in God.

²² Since you have ^(Q)purified your souls ^(R)in obedience to the truth for a ^(S)sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from ^[c]the heart, ²³ for you have been ^(T)born again ^(U)not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^(V)word of God. ²⁴ For,

And this is ^(Y)the word which was ^[d]preached to you.

As Newborn Babes

2 Therefore, ^(Z)rid yourselves of all ^[e]malice and all deceit and ^[f]hypocrisy and ^[g]envy and all ^[h](AA)slander, ^2 (AB)and like newborn babies, long for the ^[i](AC)pure ^[j]milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(AD)grow ^[k]in respect to salvation, ³ if you have ^(AE)tasted ^[l](AF)the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(AG)rejected by people, but is ^[m]choice and precious in the sight of God, ^5 (AH)you also, as living stones, ^[n]are being built up as a ^(AI)spiritual house for a holy ^(AJ)priesthood, to ^(AK)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁹ But you are ^(A)a chosen people, a royal ^(B)priesthood, a ^(C)holy nation, ^(D)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(E)out of darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (F)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.

²⁴ and He Himself ^[a](A)brought our sins in His body up on the ^[b](B)cross, so that we ^(C)might die to ^[c]sin and live for righteousness; ^(D)by His ^[d]wounds you were ^(E)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(F)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(G)Shepherd and ^[e]Guardian of your souls.