2:4 So as you come to him, 1 a living stone rejected by men but 2 chosen and priceless 3 in God’s sight, 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer 4 spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it says 5 in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, 6 and whoever believes 7 in him 8 will never 9 be put to shame.” 10 2:7 So you who believe see 11 his value, 12 but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the 13 cornerstone, 14 2:8 and a stumbling-stone 15 and a rock to trip over. 16 They stumble 17 because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 18 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues 19 of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You 20 once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, 21 but now you have received mercy.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct 22 among the non-Christians, 23 so that though 24 they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. 25
2:13 Be subject to every human institution 26 for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions 27 to punish wrongdoers and praise 28 those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you 29 to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 2:16 Live 30 as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. 31 2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, 32 fear God, honor the king.
2:18 Slaves, 33 be subject 34 to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 2:19 For this finds God’s favor, 35 if because of conscience toward God 36 someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. 37 2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He 38 committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 39 2:23 When he was maligned, he 40 did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened 41 no retaliation, 42 but committed himself to God 43 who judges justly. 2:24 He 44 himself bore our sins 45 in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning 46 and live for righteousness. By his 47 wounds 48 you were healed. 49 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep 50 but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.