Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

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.

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.

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.

For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

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,

To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

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.

and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

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:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

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.

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.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

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.

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

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.

or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

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.

How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

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.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.