Jesus Is the Living Stone

2 So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all ·lying [deceit], hypocrisy, ·jealousy [envy], and ·evil speech [slander; ^Call traits that destroy relationships; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 4:25–32; Col. 3:8]. ² As newborn babies want milk, you should want the ·pure [sincere; unadulterated] and ·simple [or spiritual] ·teaching [^Lmilk; ^Cprobably referring to the word of God; see 1:23–25]. By it you can ·mature [grow; reach maturity] in your salvation, ³ because you have already ·examined and seen [^Ltasted] how good the Lord is [Ps. 34:8].

⁴ Come to the Lord Jesus, the ·“stone” that lives [^La living stone; ^CJesus is the most important stone in the spiritual temple described in v. 5]. ·The people of the world did not want this stone, but he was the stone God chose, and he was precious [^L…rejected by people, but chosen and precious/valuable to God]. ⁵ You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual ·temple [house]—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices that are ·acceptable [pleasing] to God ·through [or because they are mediated by] Jesus Christ. ⁶ The Scripture ·says [^Lcontains]:

  ⁷ ·This stone is worth much to you who believe [or You who believe see the honor/value/preciousness of the stone; ^LThe honor is to you who believe]. But to the people who do not believe,

  ⁸ ·Also, he is [^LAnd]

They stumble because they do not obey ·what God says [the message/word], which is what God ·planned to happen to [destined/appointed for] them.

⁹ But you are a chosen ·people [or generation; Is. 43:21], royal ·priests [^Lpriesthood], a holy nation, a people ·for God’s own possession [who belong to God; Ex. 19:5–6]. You were chosen to ·tell about the wonderful acts of God, who [proclaim the praises/virtues of him who] called you out of darkness into his ·wonderful [marvelous] light. ¹⁰ At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had ·never [^Lnot] received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy [Hos. 2:23].

Live for God

¹¹ ·Dear friends [^LBeloved], I ·beg [urge; exhort] you as ·foreigners [strangers; sojourners; resident aliens; 1:17] and ·strangers in this world [exiles; temporary residents; refugees; foreigners; 1:1; Gen. 23:4] to ·avoid [abstain from] the ·evil things your bodies want to do [^Lfleshly/worldly desires] that fight against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among unbelievers [^Lthe Gentiles/pagans] that, even though they might ·say that you are doing wrong [slander you; accuse you of doing evil], they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God ·on the day when Christ comes again [when Christ comes to judge; ^Lon the day of visitation].

Yield to Every Human Authority

¹³ For the Lord’s sake, ·yield [submit; be subject] to ·the people who have authority in this world [or every human institution/creation; Rom. 13:1–7; Titus 3:1]: the ·king [or emperor], who is the ·highest [supreme] authority, ¹⁴ and the ·leaders [governors] who are ·sent [commissioned] by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. ¹⁵ [^LFor; Because] It is ·God’s desire [^Lthe will of God] that by doing good you should ·stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you [^Lsilence the ignorant talk of foolish people]. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an ·excuse [cover-up; pretext] to do evil. Live as ·servants [slaves] of God. ¹⁷ ·Show respect for [Honor] all people: Love the ·brothers and sisters of God’s family [community of believers; brotherhood], ·respect [fear] God [Prov. 1:7], honor the king [or emperor; Rom. 13:1].

Follow Christ’s Example

¹⁸ ·Slaves [Servants; ^Cthe term refers to household slaves], ·yield [submit; be subject; ^Cput the other person’s interests first] to the authority of your masters with all ·respect [fear; deference; Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 3:22—4:1], not only those who are good and ·kind [gentle; considerate], but also those who are ·dishonest [or cruel; ^Lcrooked]. ¹⁹ A person might have to suffer even when it is ·unfair [unjust], but if ·through awareness of God [or because of his God-given conscience] he endures the ·pain [grief], ·God is pleased [or this is commendable; ^Lthis is favor/credit/grace]. ²⁰ If you are beaten for ·doing wrong [sin], ·there is no reason to praise you [what credit/honor is that for you…?] for ·being patient in your punishment [enduring it]. But if you suffer for doing good, and you ·are patient [endure it], ·then God is pleased [this is commendable to God; ^Lthis is favor/credit/grace from God]. ²¹ [^LFor] This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you ·and gave you [leaving you] an example to follow. So you should ·do as he did [^Lfollow in his footsteps].

²³ People ·insulted [abused; reviled] Christ, but he did not ·insult [abuse; revile] them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. ·He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him [^LHe delivered/entrusted himself to the One who judges justly/rightly]. ²⁴ Christ [^Lhimself] ·carried [bore] our sins in his body on the ·cross [^Ltree; Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13] so we would ·stop living for [die to] sin and start living for ·what is right [righteousness]. And you are healed ·because of [by] his wounds. ²⁵ [^LFor] You were like sheep that wandered away [Is. 53:6], but now you have come back to the Shepherd and ·Overseer [Guardian] of your souls.