1 Wherefore laying aside all ^amalice, and all ^bguile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil ^cspeakings,

  2 As ^anewborn babes, desire the ^bsincere ^cmilk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  3 If so be ye have ^atasted that the Lord is gracious.

  4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but ^achosen of God, and precious,

  5 Ye also, as ^alively stones, are built up a ^bspiritual ^chouse, an holy priesthood, to offer up ^dspiritual ^esacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

  6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief ^acorner ^bstone, elect, precious: and he that ^cbelieveth on him shall not be ^dconfounded.

  7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be ^adisobedient, the stone which the builders ^bdisallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

  8 And a ^astone of ^bstumbling, and a ^crock of ^doffence, even to them which ^estumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were ^fappointed.

  9 But ye are a ^achosen generation, a ^broyal ^cpriesthood, an ^dholy ^enation, a ^fpeculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of ^gdarkness into his marvellous ^hlight:

  10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  12 Having your conversation ^ahonest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good ^bworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  13 ^aSubmit yourselves to every ^bordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as ^csupreme;

  14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

  15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to ^asilence the ^bignorance of foolish men:

  16 As free, and not using your ^aliberty for a cloke of ^bmaliciousness, but as the ^cservants of God.

  17 ^aHonour all men. Love the ^bbrotherhood. ^cFear God. Honour the ^dking.

  18 ^aServants, be subject to your ^bmasters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ^cfroward.

  19 For this is ^athankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure ^bgrief, suffering wrongfully.

  20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it ^apatiently? but if, when ye do well, and ^bsuffer for it, ye take it ^cpatiently, this is ^dacceptable with God.

  21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also ^asuffered for us, leaving us an ^bexample, that ye should follow his steps:

  22 Who did no ^asin, neither was ^bguile found in his mouth:

  23 Who, when he was ^areviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but ^bcommitted himself to him that judgeth righteously:

  24 Who his own self ^abare our ^bsins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose ^cstripes ye were healed.

  25 For ye were as ^asheep going astray; but are now returned unto the ^bShepherd and ^cBishop of your souls.