King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
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Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
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Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
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As the scripture says, "You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is."
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
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Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
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For the scripture says, "I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed."
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
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This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe: "The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all."
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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And another scripture says, "This is the stone that will make people stumble, the rock that will make them fall." They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
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But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.
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.
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At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
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I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul.
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
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Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
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For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor, who is the supreme authority,
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.
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and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do.
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
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Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
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Respect everyone, love other believers, honor God, and respect the Emperor.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
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You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
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God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
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For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
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It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps.
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips.
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
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When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge.
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
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Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.