1Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2as newborn babies, long for the spiritual milk which is without deceit, that you may grow by it to salvation; 3if you have tasted that Yehovah is gracious: 4to whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but with God elect, precious, 5you also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Yeshua Messiah. 6Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: And the one believing in him shall not be put to shame. 7For you therefore who are believing is the preciousness: but for those disbelieving, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; 8and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed. 9But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10who in the past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12keeping your behavior honorable among the Gentiles; that, in the thing in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. 15For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. 17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unreasonable. 19For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endures griefs, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when you sin, and are buffeted for it, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For to this you were called: because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps: 22who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth: 23who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, did not threaten; but committed himself to him who judges righteously: 24who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep; but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.