1 Peter 2:3-16
New American Standard Bible
4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For this is contained in Scripture: 'BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.'
7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, 'A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,'
9But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’S own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10for 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.
11Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.
King James Version
Chapter 2
3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
3if you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— 5you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
12Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
13Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority
14or 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.
15For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
New Living Translation
11Dear friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
English Standard Version
4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are God 's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
13Be subject for the Lord 's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
New International Version
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
New King James Version
4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—
16as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
