1 peter 2 (NMV)
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
2 Like newborn babies, crave the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to Him, a living stone, rejected by people but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
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 it stands in Scripture: "See, I am laying a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
7 So this honor is for you who believe. But for those who do not believe: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
8 and "A stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, and this is what they were appointed for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, so that you may declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous 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 Beloved, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires, which wage war against the soul.
12 Live honorably among the Gentiles [non-Jews], so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day He visits.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to the emperor as supreme,
14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do what is right.
15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Live as servants of God.
17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh.
19 For it is a gracious thing when, mindful of God, someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is it if you endure a beating for doing wrong? But if you suffer for doing what is good and endure it, this is commendable before God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps.
22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth."
23 When He was insulted, He did not return the insult. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.
24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin 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.