As Newborn Babes

2 Therefore, ^(A)rid yourselves of all ^[a]malice and all deceit and ^[b]hypocrisy and ^[c]envy and all ^[d](B)slander, ^2 (C)and like newborn babies, long for the ^[e](D)pure ^[f]milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(E)grow ^[g]in respect to salvation, ³ if you have ^(F)tasted ^[h](G)the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(H)rejected by people, but is ^[i]choice and precious in the sight of God, ^5 (I)you also, as living stones, ^[j]are being built up as a ^(J)spiritual house for a holy ^(K)priesthood, to ^(L)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in ^[k]Scripture:

^7 (O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

⁸ and,

^(S)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^(T)and to this they were also appointed.

⁹ But you are ^(U)a chosen people, a royal ^(V)priesthood, a ^(W)holy nation, ^(X)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(Y)out of darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (Z)for 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.

^11 (AA)Beloved, ^(AB)I urge you as ^(AC)foreigners and strangers to abstain from ^(AD)fleshly lusts, which wage ^(AE)war against the soul. ^12 (AF)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(AG)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[o]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(AH)glorify God ^(AI)on the day of ^[p]visitation.

Honor Authority

^13 (AJ)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[q]by him ^(AK)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(AL)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[r](AM)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(AN)silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Act as ^(AO)free people, and ^[s]do not use your freedom as a ^[t]covering for evil, but use it as ^(AP)bond-servants of God. ^17 (AQ)Honor all people, ^(AR)love the brotherhood, ^(AS)fear God, ^(AT)honor the ^[u]king.

^18 (AU)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(AV)gentle, but also to those who are ^[v]harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(AW)conscience toward God a person endures ^[w]grief when suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(AX)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

²¹ For ^(AY)you have been called for this purpose, ^(AZ)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(BA)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who ^(BB)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [x]and while being ^(BC)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself ^[y](BD)brought our sins in His body up on the ^[z](BE)cross, so that we ^(BF)might die to ^[aa]sin and live for righteousness; ^(BG)by His ^[ab]wounds you were ^(BH)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(BI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(BJ)Shepherd and ^[ac]Guardian of your souls.