1 Peter 2:6-25

6For this is contained in 1Scripture: “2Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a 3precious cornerstone, And the one who believes in 4Him will not be 5put to shame.” 76This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “7A stone which the builders 8rejected, This became the 9chief cornerstone,” 8and, “10A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; 11for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, 12and to this they were also appointed.

9But you are 13a chosen people, a royal 14priesthood, a 15holy nation, 16a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you 17out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1018for 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.

1119Beloved, 20I urge you as 21foreigners and strangers to abstain from 22fleshly lusts, which wage 23war against the soul. 1224Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they 25slander you as evildoers, they may 26because of your good deeds, as they observe them, 27glorify God 28on the day of 29visitation.

1330Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14or to governors as sent 31by him 32for the punishment of evildoers and the 33praise of those who do right. 15For 3435such is the will of God, that by doing right you 36silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16Act as 37free people, and 38do not use your freedom as a 39covering for evil, but use it as 40bond-servants of God. 1741Honor all people, 42love the brotherhood, 43fear God, 44honor the 45king.

1846Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and 47gentle, but also to those who are 48harsh. 19For this finds favor, if for the sake of 49conscience toward God a person endures 50grief when suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if 51when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 21For 52you have been called for this purpose, 53because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you 54an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22He who 55committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 2356and while being 57abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24and He Himself 5859brought our sins in His body up on the 6061cross, so that we 62might die to 63sin and live for righteousness; 64by His 65wounds you were 66healed. 25For you were 67continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the 68Shepherd and 69Guardian of your souls.