1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.4 As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him —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.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." [^2]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," [^3]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.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.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.11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against 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.13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.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.19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.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.21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." [^5]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.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."25 For "you were like sheep going astray," "but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Deponentes igitur omnem malitiam, et omnem dolum, et simulationes, et invidias, et omnes detractiones, 2 sicut modo geniti infantes, rationabile, sine dolo lac concupiscite : ut in eo crescatis in salutem : 3 si tamen gustastis quoniam dulcis est Dominus. 4 Ad quem accedentes lapidem vivum, ab hominibus quidem reprobatum, a Deo autem electum, et honorificatum : 5 et ipsi tamquam lapides vivi superdificamini, domus spiritualis, sacerdotium sanctum, offerre spirituales hostias, acceptabiles Deo per Jesum Christum. 6 Propter quod continet Scriptura : Ecce pono in Sion lapidem summum angularem, electum, pretiosum : et qui crediderit in eum, non confundetur. 7 Vobis igitur honor credentibus : non credentibus autem lapis, quem reprobaverunt dificantes : hic factus est in caput anguli, 8 et lapis offensionis, et petra scandali, his qui offendunt verbo, nec credunt in quo et positi sunt. 9 Vos autem genus electum, regale sacerdotium, gens sancta, populus acquisitionis : ut virtutes annuntietis ejus qui de tenebris vos vocavit in admirabile lumen suum. 10 Qui aliquando non populus, nunc autem populus Dei : qui non consecuti misericordiam, nunc autem misericordiam consecuti.11 Carissimi, obsecro vos tamquam advenas et peregrinos abstinere vos a carnalibus desideriis, qu militant adversus animam, 12 conversationem vestram inter gentes habentes bonam : ut in eo quod detrectant de vobis tamquam de malefactoribus, ex bonis operibus vos considerantes, glorificent Deum in die visitationis. 13 Subjecti igitur estote omni human creatur propter Deum : sive regi quasi prcellenti : 14 sive ducibus tamquam ab eo missis ad vindictam malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum : 15 quia sic est voluntas Dei, ut benefacientes obmutescere faciatis imprudentium hominum ignorantiam : 16 quasi liberi, et non quasi velamen habentes maliti libertatem, sed sicut servi Dei. 17 Omnes honorate : fraternitatem diligite : Deum timete : regem honorificate.18 Servi, subditi estote in omni timore dominis, non tantum bonis et modestis, sed etiam dyscolis. 19 Hc est enim gratia, si propter Dei conscientiam sustinet qui tristitias, patiens injuste. 20 Qu enim est gloria, si peccantes, et colaphizati suffertis ? sed si bene facientes patienter sustinetis, hc est gratia apud Deum. 21 In hoc enim vocati estis : quia et Christus passus est pro nobis, vobis relinquens exemplum ut sequamini vestigia ejus : 22 qui peccatum non fecit, nec inventus est dolus in ore ejus : 23 qui cum malediceretur, non maledicebat : cum pateretur, non comminabatur : tradebat autem judicanti se injuste : 24 qui peccata nostra ipse pertulit in corpore suo super lignum ; ut peccatis mortui, justiti vivamus : cujus livore sanatis estis. 25 Eratis enim sicut oves errantes, sed conversi estis nunc ad pastorem, et episcopum animarum vestrarum.