Converts are newborn babes in Christ—He is the chief cornerstone—Saints hold a royal priesthood and are a peculiar people—Saints are in subjection to the laws of man.

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.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as astrangers and bpilgrims, cabstain from fleshly dlusts, which ewar against the soul;

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 cloak 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.