Study Desk

So rid yourselves of^(a) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^(b)

Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk,^(c) so that you may grow by it for your salvation,^[a]

since you have tasted ^(d) that the Lord is good. ^(e)[b]

Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God—

you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(f) through Jesus Christ.

For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, ^(g) a chosen and honored ^[c] cornerstone, ^[d](h) and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame! ^[e](i)[f]

So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone, ^(j)[g]

and A stone to stumble over, ^[h] and a rock to trip over. ^[i](k)[j] They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined^(l) for this.

But you are a chosen race, ^[k](m)[l] a royal priesthood, ^(n)[m] a holy nation, ^(o)[n] a people for His possession, ^(p)[o] so that you may proclaim the praises ^[p](q)[q] of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.^(r)

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.

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents^(t) to abstain^(u) from fleshly^(v) desires that war against you.^[r](w)

Conduct^(x) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[s] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.^[t](y)

Submit^(z) to every human authority^[u] because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor^[v] as the supreme authority^(aa)

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.

For it is God's will^(ab) that you silence the ignorance^(ac) of foolish people by doing good.

As God's slaves,^(ad) live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.^(ae)

Honor everyone. Love^(af) the brotherhood.^(ag) Fear God.^(ah) Honor the Emperor.^[w]

Household slaves, submit with all fear^(ai) to your masters,^(aj) not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.^[x](ak)

For it brings favor^[y] if, mindful of God's will,^[z][aa] someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.

For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(al) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^(am) for you, leaving you an example,^(an) so that you should follow^(ao) in His steps.

He did not commit sin, ^(ap) and no deceit ^(aq) was found in His mouth; ^(ar)[ab]

when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the One who judges^(as) justly.

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) you have been healed by His wounds. ^(ay)[ac]

For you were like sheep going astray, ^(az)[ad] but you have now returned to the Shepherd^(ba) and Guardian^[ae] of your souls.