Chapter 2

Lay aside therefore all malice, and all deceit, and pretense, and envy, and all slander.

Crave, as newborn babes, pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow to salvation;

if, indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

Draw near to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and honored by God.

Be you yourselves as living stones, built thereon into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Hence Scripture says, "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, chosen, precious; And he who believes in it shall not be put to shame."

For you, therefore, who believe is this honor; but to those who do not believe, "A stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, "

and, "A stumbling-stone, and a rock of scandal," to those who stumble at the word, and who do not believe. For this also they are destined.

You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nations, a purchased people; that you may proclaim the perfections of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

You who in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Good Example

Beloved, I exhort you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from carnal desires which war against the soul.

Behave yourselves honorably among the pagans; that, whereas they slander you as evildoers, they may, through observing you, by reason of your good works glorify God in the day of visitation. For the Citizen

Be subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether to the king as supreme,

or to governors as sent through him for vengeance on evildoers and for the praise of the good.

For such is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Live as freemen, yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice but as servants of God.

Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king. For the Slave

Servants, be subject to your masters in all fear, not only to the good and moderate, but also to the severe.

This is indeed a grace, if for consciousness of God anyone endure sorrows, suffering unjustly.

For what is the glory if, when you sin and are buffeted, you endure it? But if, when you do right and suffer, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Unto this, indeed, you have been called, because Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you an example that you may follow in his steps:

"Who did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth."

Who, when he was reviled, did not revile, when he suffered, did not threaten, but yielded himself to him who judged him unjustly;

who himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live to justice; and by his stripes you were healed.

For you were as sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.