A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure ^uspiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have ^vtasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone ^wrejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being ^xbuilt up as a spiritual ^yhouse, to be a holy ^zpriesthood, to offer ^aspiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

8 and

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were ^fdestined to do.

9 But you are ^ga chosen race, ^ha royal priesthood, a holy nation, ⁱa people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^jout of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 ^kOnce you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as ^lsojourners and ^mexiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ⁿwhich wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and ^oglorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

13 ^pBe subject for the Lord’s sake ^qto every human institution,² whether it be to the emperor³ as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, ^rthat by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^sliving as servants⁴ of God. 17 ^tHonor everyone. Love the ^ubrotherhood. ^vFear God. Honor the emperor.

18 ^wServants, ^xbe subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.⁵ 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while ^ysuffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, ^zwhen you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because ^aChrist also suffered for you, leaving you an ^bexample, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 ^cHe committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 ^dWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but ^econtinued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 ^fHe himself bore our sins in his body on the ^gtree, that we might ^hdie to sin and ⁱlive to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were ^jstraying like sheep, but have now returned to the ^kShepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, ^lwives, ^mbe subject to your own husbands, so that ⁿeven if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and ^opure conduct. 3 ^pDo not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the ^qhidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^rcalling him lord. And ^syou are ^ther children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, ^uhusbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are ^vheirs with you¹ of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

8 Finally, all of you, have ^wunity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a ^xtender heart, and a ^yhumble mind. 9 ^zDo not repay evil for evil or ^areviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that ^byou may obtain a blessing. 10 For

13 Now ^fwho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be ^gblessed. ^hHave no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ⁱalways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, ^jso that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than ^kfor doing evil.

18 For ^lChrist also suffered² once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^mthat he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 ⁿin which³ he went and proclaimed⁴ to the spirits in prison, 20 because⁵ they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, ^owhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 ^pBaptism, which corresponds to this, ^qnow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the ^rright hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God’s Grace

4 Since therefore ^sChrist suffered in the flesh,^{1 t}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^uwhoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human ^vpassions but for the will of God. 3 For the ^wtime that is past suffices for doing what the ^xGentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will ^ygive account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the ^zgospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might ^alive in the spirit the way God does.

7 The end of all things is ^bat hand; therefore be self-controlled and ^csober-minded ^dfor the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, ^ekeep loving one another earnestly, since love ^fcovers a multitude of sins. 9 ^gShow hospitality to one another ^hwithout grumbling. 10 ⁱAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good ^jstewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^kTo him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to ^ltest you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But ^mrejoice insofar as you ⁿshare Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ^oinsulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the ^pSpirit of glory² and of God rests upon you. 15 ^qBut let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone ^rsuffers as a ^sChristian, let him not be ^tashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment ^uto begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for ^vthose who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will ^xentrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a ^ywitness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the ^zflock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{1 a}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;² not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 ^bnot domineering over those in your charge, but being ^cexamples to the flock. 4 And ^dwhen the chief ^eShepherd appears, you will receive the unfading ^fcrown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^gClothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^h“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 ⁱcasting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 ^jBe sober-minded; ^kbe watchful. Your adversary the devil ^lprowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 ^mResist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your ⁿbrotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have ^osuffered a little while, the God of all grace, ^pwho has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 ^qTo him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 ^rShe who is at ^sBabylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

2 Peter

Greeting

1 ^aSimeon¹ Peter, a servant² and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of ^bour God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 ^cMay grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him ^dwho called us to³ his own glory and ^eexcellence,⁴ 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and ^fvery great promises, so that through them you may become ^gpartakers of the divine nature, having ^hescaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with ⁱvirtue,⁵ and ^jvirtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with ^klove. 8 For if these qualities⁶ are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or ^lunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is ^mblind, having forgotten that he was ⁿcleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,^{7 o}be all the more diligent to ^pconfirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never ^qfall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an ^rentrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are ^sestablished ^tin the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this ^ubody,^{8 v}to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, ^was our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ’s Glory and the Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised ^xmyths when ^ywe made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^zbut we were eyewitnesses of his ^amajesty. 17 For when he received honor and ^bglory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ^c“This is my beloved Son,⁹ with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a ^dlamp ^eshining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the ^fmorning star ^grises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 ^hFor no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but ⁱmen spoke from God as they were carried along ^jby the Holy Spirit.