CHAPTER 2
1 Therefore put ye away all malice, and all guile, and feignings [or simulations], and envies, and all backbitings [or all detractions];
2 as now born young children, reasonable, without guile, covet ye (the) milk [of full teaching], that in it ye wax into health (or so that by it ye grow in your salvation);
3 if nevertheless ye have tasted, that the Lord is sweet.
4 And nigh ye to him, that is a living stone, and reproved of men, but chosen of God, and honoured; (And come near to him, who is a living stone, and rebuked and rejected by men, but chosen and honoured by God;)
5 and yourselves as quick stones (or and yourselves like living stones), be ye above builded into spiritual houses, and an holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 For which thing the scripture saith, Lo! I shall set in Sion [or I shall put in Sion] the highest cornerstone, chosen and precious; and he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded. (For which thing the Scripture saith, Behold! I shall put in Zion the highest cornerstone, chosen and precious; and he who shall believe in him, shall not be shamed.)
7 Therefore honour to you that believe; but to men that believe not, the stone whom the builders reproved, this is made into the head of the corner; (And so honour to you who believe; but to those who do not believe, the stone which the builders rejected, this is made into the head of the corner;)
8 and the stone of hurting, and the stone of stumbling, to them that offend to the word (or to those who stumble at the word), neither believe it, in which they be set.
9 But ye be a chosen kin [or Forsooth ye be a kind (that was) chosen], a kingly priesthood, (a) holy folk, a people of purchasing, that ye tell the virtues of him, that called you from darknesses into his wonderful light, (or so that ye tell out his praises, he who called you from darkness into his wonderful light).
10 Which sometime were not a people of God, but now ye be the people of God; which had not mercy, but now ye have mercy.
11 Most dear (ones), I beseech you, as comelings, [or as guests], (or as newcomers), and pilgrims, to abstain you from fleshly desires, that fight against the soul;
12 and have ye your conversation [or your life] good among heathen men, that in that thing that they backbite of you, as of mis-doers, they behold you of good works, and glorify God in the day of visitation. (and live a good life among the Gentiles, so that in those things in which they now slander you, as mis-doers, they shall instead see your good works, and glorify God on the Day of Visitation.)
13 Be ye subject to each creature of man, for God, (or Be subject to each creation, or to each institution of man, for God); either to the king, as to him that is higher [or is more worthy] in state,
14 either to dukes, as to those that be sent of him to the vengeance of mis-doers, and to the praising of good men [or of good deeds].
15 For so is the will of God, that ye do well, and make the uncunningness, (or the unknowingness, or the ignorance) of unprudent men [or of unwise men] to be dumb (or to be silent).
16 As free men, and not as having freedom the covering of malice, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour ye all men, love ye (the) brotherhood, dread ye God (or have fearful reverence toward God), honour ye the king.
18 Servants, be ye subject in all dread to (your) lords, not only to good and to mild (ones), but also to tyrants. (Servants, be subject in all fear or with all due respect, or reverence, for your lords, not only to good and to meek ones, but also to tyrants.)
19 For this is grace, if for conscience of God any man suffereth heavinesses [or sorrows], and suffereth unjustly.
20 For what grace is it, if ye sin, and be buffeted, and suffer? But if ye do well, and suffer patiently, this is grace with God.
21 For to this thing ye be called. For also Christ suffered for us, and left (an) ensample to you, that ye follow the steps of him. (For to this ye be called. For the Messiah also suffered for us, and left an example for you, so that ye follow his steps.)
22 Which did not sin, neither guile was found in his mouth. (Who did not sin, nor was a lie ever found in his mouth, or nor did a lie ever come out of his mouth.)
23 And when he was cursed, he cursed not; when he suffered, he menaced not; but he betook himself to him, that deemed him unjustly. (And when he was cursed, he did not curse back; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he delivered himself unto him, who judged him unjustly.)
24 And he himself bare [or suffered] our sins in his body on a tree, (so) that we be dead to sins, and live to rightwiseness, by whose wan wound ye be healed.
25 For ye were as sheep erring, but ye be now turned to the shepherd [or but ye be converted now to the shepherd], and (the) bishop (or the High Priest) of your souls.