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