| 章 |
| 2:1 |
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
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| 2:2 |
like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
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| 2:3 |
if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
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| 2:4 |
And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,
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| 2:5 |
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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| 2:6 |
For [this] is contained in Scripture: "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner [stone], And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."
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| 2:7 |
This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner [stone],"
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| 2:8 |
and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this [doom] they were also appointed.
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| 2:9 |
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
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| 2:10 |
for 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.
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| 2:11 |
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
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| 2:12 |
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe [them], glorify God in the day of visitation.
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| 2:13 |
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
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| 2:14 |
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
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| 2:15 |
For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
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| 2:16 |
[Act] as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but [use it] as bondslaves of God.
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| 2:17 |
Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
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| 2:18 |
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
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| 2:19 |
For this [finds] favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
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| 2:20 |
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer [for it] you patiently endure it, this [finds] favor with God.
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| 2:21 |
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
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| 2:22 |
who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
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| 2:23 |
and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously;
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| 2:24 |
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
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| 2:25 |
For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
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