The Living Stone and a Holy People

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of^(A) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(B) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,^[a](C) so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, ³ if you have tasted^(D) that the Lord is good.^{[b](E) 4} As you come to him, a living stone – rejected by people but chosen and honoured by^[c] God –  ⁵ 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. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So honour will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

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

⁹ 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 marvellous light.^{(R) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy,^(S) but now you have received mercy.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles^(T) to abstain^(U) from sinful^(V) desires that wage war against the soul.^{(W) 12} Conduct^(X) yourselves honourably among the Gentiles,^[p] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.^(Y)

¹³ Submit^(Z) to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor^[q] as the supreme authority^{(AA) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will^(AB) that you silence the ignorance^(AC) of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,^(AD) but as God’s slaves.^{(AE) 17} Honour everyone. Love^(AF) the brothers and sisters.^(AG) Fear God.^(AH) Honour the emperor.

Submission of Slaves to Masters

¹⁸ Household slaves, submit to your masters^(AI) with all reverence^(AJ) not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.^{(AK) 19} For it brings favour if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(AL) if you endure it, this brings favour with God.

²¹ For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^(AM) for you, leaving you an example,^(AN) that you should follow^(AO) in his steps. ²² He did not commit sin,^(AP) and no deceit^(AQ) was found in his mouth;^{[r](AR) 23} when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges^(AS) justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins^(AT) in his body^(AU) on the tree;^(AV) so that, having died to sins,^(AW) we might live for righteousness.^(AX) By his wounds^[s](AY) you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray,^[t](AZ) but you have now returned to the Shepherd^(BA) and Overseer^[u] of your souls.