¶ Wherefore¹ laying² aside all malice³, and all guile⁴, and hypocrisies⁵, and envies⁶, and all evil speakings,

As newborn⁸ babes, desire the sincere⁹ milk of the word, that ye may grow¹⁰ thereby:

¹¹If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

¶ To¹² whom coming, as unto a living¹³ stone¹⁴, disallowed¹⁵ indeed of men, but chosen¹⁶ of God, and precious¹⁷,

Ye also¹⁸, as lively stones, are built¹⁹ up a spiritual²⁰ house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable²¹ to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it²² is contained in the scripture, Behold²³, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect²⁴, precious: and he that believeth on him shall²⁵ not be confounded.

Unto you²⁶ therefore which believe he is precious²⁷: but unto them which be²⁸ disobedient, the stone²⁹ which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head³⁰ of the corner,

And a stone³¹ of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being³² disobedient: whereunto³³ also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen³⁴ generation, a royal³⁵ priesthood, an holy³⁶ nation, a peculiar³⁷ people; that ye should shew³⁸ forth the praises³⁹ of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

¶ Which in time past were⁴⁰ not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained⁴¹ mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech⁴² you as⁴³ strangers and pilgrims, abstain⁴⁴ from fleshly lusts, which war⁴⁵ against the soul;

Having your conversation⁴⁶ honest⁴⁷ among⁴⁸ the Gentiles: that⁴⁹, whereas⁵⁰ they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify⁵¹ God in the day⁵² of visitation.

¶⁵³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment⁵⁴ of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

For so⁵⁵ is the will of God, that with⁵⁶ well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance⁵⁷ of foolish⁵⁸ men:

As free⁵⁹, and⁶⁰ not using⁶¹ your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but⁶² as the servants of God.

Honour⁶³ all men. Love⁶⁴ the brotherhood. Fear⁶⁵ God. Honour⁶⁶ the king.

Servants, be⁶⁷ subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good⁶⁸ and gentle, but⁶⁹ also to the froward.

For this⁷⁰ is thankworthy⁷¹, if a man for conscience⁷² toward God endure grief, suffering⁷³ wrongfully.

¶ For⁷⁴ what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted⁷⁵ for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when⁷⁶ ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this⁷⁷ is acceptable⁷⁸ with God.

For even⁷⁹ hereunto were ye called: because⁸⁰ Christ also suffered for us⁸¹, leaving⁸² us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did⁸³ no sin, neither was guile⁸⁴ found in his mouth:

Who, when he was⁸⁵ reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened⁸⁶ not; but⁸⁷ committed himself⁸⁸ to him that judgeth righteously:

Who his own self⁸⁹ bare our sins in his own body on⁹⁰ the tree, that we, being⁹¹ dead to sins, should live⁹² unto righteousness: by⁹³ whose stripes ye were healed⁹⁴.

For ye⁹⁵ were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd⁹⁶ and Bishop⁹⁷ of your souls.