New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
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So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
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Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.
3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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You've had a taste of God.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
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Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor.
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
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The Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I'm setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it.
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
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To you who trust him, he's a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, The stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone.
8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
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For the untrusting it's . . . a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way. They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you -
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
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Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
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Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
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Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level;
14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
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they are God's emissaries for keeping order.
15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
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It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society.
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
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Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules.
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
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Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
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You who are servants, be good servants to your masters - not just to good masters, but also to bad ones.
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
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What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
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There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
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This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
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He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
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They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
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He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.