1 Peter 2:6-25

6For this is contained in 1Scripture: “2Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a 3precious corner stone, And he who believes in 4Him will not be 5disappointed.” 76This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “7The stone which the builders 8rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8and, “9A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; 10for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, 11and to this doom they were also appointed.

9But you are 12a chosen race, a royal 13priesthood, a 14holy nation, 15a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you 16out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1017for 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.

1118Beloved, 19I urge you as 20aliens and strangers to abstain from 21fleshly lusts which wage 22war against the soul. 1223Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they 24slander you as evildoers, they may 25because of your good deeds, as they observe them, 26glorify God 27in the day of 28visitation.

1329Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14or to governors as sent 30by him 31for the punishment of evildoers and the 32praise of those who do right. 15For 3334such is the will of God that by doing right you may 35silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Act as 36free men, and 37do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as 38bondslaves of God. 1739Honor all people, 40love the brotherhood, 41fear God, 42honor the 43king.

1844Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and 45gentle, but also to those who are 46unreasonable. 19For this finds 47favor, if for the sake of 48conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if 49when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds 50favor with God. 21For 51you have been called for this purpose, 52since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you 53an example for you to follow in His steps, 22who 54committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 2355and while being 56reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24and He Himself 5758bore our sins in His body on the 5960cross, so that we 61might die to 62sin and live to righteousness; for 63by His 64wounds you were 65healed. 25For you were 66continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the 67Shepherd and 68Guardian of your souls.