1 So give up all the evil things that you do: all your dishonesty, hypocrisy, and jealousy, all the ways you speak badly about others. 2 You should become like newborn babies who only want pure spiritual milk, so you can grow in salvation 3 now you've tasted how good the Lord really is. 4 As you come to him—the living stone that people rejected as useless, but is chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also become like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. You are a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices that God welcomes through Jesus Christ. 6 As Scripture says, “See! I'm setting in Zion its main cornerstone, specially-chosen and valuable. Whoever trusts in him will not be disappointed.” 7 He is very valuable to you who do trust. But for those who don't, “The stone the builders rejected that became the main cornerstone” 8 is “The stone that trips you up and the rock that makes you fall.” People stumble over this message because they refuse to accept it—which for them is entirely predictable. 9 In complete contrast, you are a specially-chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Consequently you can reveal the wonderful things he's done, calling you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past you were nobodies, but now you are God's people. In the past you hadn't received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 My friends, I'm pleading with you as foreigners and strangers in this world not to give in to physical desires that are in conflict with what is spiritual. 12 Be sure to act appropriately when you're with non-Christians, so even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see the good things you do and glorify God when he comes. 13 Obey human authority for the Lord's sake, whether it is the king as the highest authority, 14 or governors that God appoints to punish those who do evil and to commend those who do good. 15 By doing what is good and right God wants you to silence the ignorant accusations of foolish people. 16 Yes, you are free people! So don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but live as God's servants. 17 Respect everyone. Show your love to the community of believers. Have reverence for God. Respect the king. 18 If you are a servant then submit to your master—not just those who are good and kind, but those who are harsh masters as well. 19 For this is what grace is: to endure life's pain and unfair suffering, keeping your focus on God. 20 However, there's no credit when you're punished for doing something wrong. But if you suffer for doing what is good and right, and you put up with it, then God's grace is with you. 21 In fact this is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example, so you should follow in his footsteps. 22 He never sinned, he never lied; 23 and when he was badly treated, he didn't retaliate. When he suffered, he didn't threaten to take revenge. He simply placed himself in the hands of the one who always judges rightly. 24 He took the consequences of our sins on himself in his body on the cross, so that we could die to sin and live rightly. “By his wounds you are healed.” 25 At one time you were like sheep who had lost their way, but now you've returned to the Shepherd—the one who watches over you.
1 Peter 2 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (25)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ephesians 4:31; James 1:21; James 4:11; 1 Peter 3:10; Colossians 3:5–8
- 2 Hebrews 5:12–13; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Mark 10:15
- 3 Psalm 34:8; Hebrews 6:5–6; Psalm 63:5; Zechariah 9:17; Psalm 24:8
- 4 Psalm 118:22–23; Acts 4:11–12; 1 Peter 2:7; Isaiah 28:16; Luke 20:17–18
- 5 Ephesians 2:20–22; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Revelation 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:16
- 6 Isaiah 28:16; Romans 9:32–33; 1 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:20; Zechariah 10:4
- 7 Psalm 118:22–23; Acts 4:11–12; Mark 12:10–11; Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:8
- 8 Isaiah 8:14; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:7; Romans 9:32–33; Romans 9:22
- 9 Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Isaiah 61:6
- 10 Hosea 2:23; Hosea 1:9–10; Hebrews 4:16; Romans 9:25–26; Romans 11:6–7
- 11 1 John 2:15–17; Galatians 5:24; 1 Peter 4:2; Hebrews 11:13; Romans 8:13
- 12 1 Peter 3:16; Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7–8; Philippians 2:15–16; 2 Corinthians 8:21
- 13 Titus 3:1; Romans 13:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; Luke 20:25; Proverbs 24:21
- 14 Romans 13:3–4
- 15 1 Peter 3:17; Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Matthew 7:26
- 16 Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:22; Romans 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:22; James 1:25
- 17 Proverbs 24:21; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5
- 18 Titus 2:9–10; Colossians 3:22–25; Ephesians 6:5–7; 1 Timothy 6:1–3; Proverbs 3:32
- 19 Matthew 5:10–12; 1 Peter 3:14–17; 1 Peter 2:20; Luke 6:32; 1 Corinthians 15:10
- 20 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 3:17; Matthew 5:10–12; 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 4:14–16
- 21 1 John 2:6; Matthew 16:24; John 13:15; Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 3:16
- 22 Isaiah 53:9; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5; Hebrews 7:26–27
- 23 Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 4:19; Hebrews 12:3; Psalm 37:5; Acts 4:29
- 24 Isaiah 53:4–6; Matthew 8:17; Romans 6:11; Revelation 22:2; 1 John 2:29
- 25 Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 34:6; Luke 15:4–6; Acts 20:28; John 10:11–16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree," "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth," but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him.
And for this reason Peter says "that we have not liberty as a cloak of maliciousness," but as the means of testing and evidencing faith.
25. But you, "chosen generation, you weak things of the world," who have forsaken all things that you might "follow the Lord," go after Him, and "confound the things which are mighty;" go after Him, ye beautiful feet, and shine in the firmament, that the heavens may declare His glory, dividing between the light of the perfect, though not as …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
He is called a Stone, not a lifeless stone, cut out by men's hands, but a chief corner-stone, on whom whosoever believeth shall not be put to shame.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death." Be all of you subject one to another "having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles," that ye may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you.