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Chapter 2 |
| 1 | Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil
speakings, |
| 2
| As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby: |
|
3 | If so be ye have tasted that the Lord
is gracious. |
| 4
| To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed
of men, but chosen of God, and precious, |
|
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. |
| 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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| 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, |
|
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. |
|
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; |
| 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. |
| 11 | Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul; |
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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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13 | Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; |
| 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 silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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| 16 | As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as
the servants of God. |
| 17 | Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honour the king. |
| 18 | Servants, be subject to your masters with
all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. |
| 19 |
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief,
suffering wrongfully. |
| 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.
|
| 21 | For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: |
| 22 | Who did no
sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: |
|
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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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. |
| 25 | For ye were
as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of
your souls. |
