King James Version KJV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
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.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
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.
6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
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,
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
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.
8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned 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:
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful 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.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
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.
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,
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.
14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.
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.
20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
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.
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.