PETER CHAPTER II.

[1 He inciteth them against uncharitableness; 4 he sheweth their privileges 
through Christ the chief corner-stone: 11 he beseecheth them to abstain from
fleshly lusts...]

WHEREFORE, laying aside all malice, and 
all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all 
evil-speakings,
2 As new-born babies, desire the sincere milk
of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed
indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual 
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore 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.
7 Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the 
stone which the builders disallowed, the same is 
made the head of the corner. 
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,
even to them which stumble at the word, being 
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 
9 But 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 marvelous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are
now the people of God: which had not obtained 
mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war 
against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the 
Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as 
evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they 
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for 
the Lords sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent 
by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for 
the praise of them that do well. 
15 For so is the will of God, that with well-doing
ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a 
cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. 
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all 
fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to 
the froward.
19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience 
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted
for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, 
when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, 
this is acceptable with God. 
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because 
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 
the 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, he threatened not; but committed 
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body
on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live 
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now 
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.