Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
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as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;
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if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
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unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,
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ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
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For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
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and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
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who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
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Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;
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having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
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Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
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or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
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For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
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Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
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Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
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For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.
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For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
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For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:
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who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
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who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
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For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 [A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
