The Living Stone and the Holy Nation
1 Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 2 Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. 3 As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”
4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For the scripture says,
“I chose a valuable stone,
which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion;
and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.”
7 This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe:
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
turned out to be the most important of all.”
8 And another scripture says,
“This is the stone that will make people stumble,
the rock that will make them fall.”
They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.
9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 10 At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.
Slaves of God
11 I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul. 12 Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
13 For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor, who is the supreme authority, 14 and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good. 15 For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do. 16 Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves. 17 Respect everyone, love other believers, honor God, and respect the Emperor.
The Example of Christ's Suffering
18 You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will. 20 For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it. 21 It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. 23 When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. 24 Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. 25 You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.
Dzīvais akmens un izredzēto cilts
1 Tādēļ atmetiet visu ļaunprātību un jebkādu viltību, izlikšanos, skaudību un visādu mēlnesību, 2 kā nupat piedzimuši bērni alkstiet pēc tīra garīga piena, lai, to baudot, jūs kļūtu pieauguši pestīšanai – 3 ja vien jūs esat baudījuši, cik Kungs ir labs. 4 Jūs nākat pie viņa, pie dzīvā akmens, kas cilvēku atmests, bet Dieva izredzēts un dārgs. 5 Arī jūs paši kā dzīvi akmeņi tiekat uzcelti par garīgu namu, lai jūs būtu par svētu priesterību Dievam un pienestu garīgus, Dievam tīkamus upurus caur Jēzu Kristu. 6 Tādēļ Raksti saka:
redzi, es lieku Ciānā stūrakmeni,
izredzētu un dārgu,
un ikviens, kas uz to tic, netiks apkaunots nekad.
7 Jums, ticīgajiem, tas ir gods, bet neticīgajiem –
akmens, ko nama cēlāji ir atmetuši.
Šis akmens ir kļuvis par stūrakmeni
8 un arī
par klupšanas akmeni,
un piedauzības klinti.
Tie, kas netic vārdam, klūp pār šo akmeni, tas viņiem arī lemts.
9 Bet jūs esat izredzēta cilts, ķēnišķa priesteru saime, svēta tauta, tā īpašums, kas jūs no tumsas ir aicinājis savā brīnumainajā gaismā, lai jūs sludinātu viņa izcilos darbus – 10 jūs, kas reiz nebijāt Dieva tauta, bet tagad esat Dieva tauta, jūs, kas nebijāt apžēloti, tagad esat kļuvuši apžēloti.
Dzīvojiet kā Dieva kalpi!
11 Mīļotie, es jūs kā ienācējus un svešiniekus šajā pasaulē aicinu atturēties no miesas iekārēm, kas visas karo pret dvēseli. 12 Esiet krietni, dzīvojot starp pagāniem, lai par tām lietām, kurās tie nosoda jūs kā ļaundarus, tie, vērodami jūsu labos darbus, slavē Dievu piemeklēšanas dienā. 13 Pakļaujieties Kunga dēļ ikvienai cilvēku vidū iedibinātai varai, vai tas būtu ķēniņš, kas ir pār visiem, 14 vai valdītāji, kas caur viņu sūtīti, lai tie ļaundarus sodītu un tos, kas labu darījuši, uzslavētu! 15 Jo tāda ir Dieva griba, ka tie, kas labu dara, apklusina nesaprātīgu ļaužu nezināšanu. 16 Būdami brīvi, neizmantojiet savu brīvību kā ļaunuma aizsegu, bet esiet kā Dieva kalpi, – 17 godājiet visus, mīliet ticības brāļus, bīstieties Dieva, godiniet ķēniņu –
Arī Kristus ir pacietis netaisnību
18 kalpi lai visā bijībā pakļaujas saviem kungiem – ne tikai labajiem un laipnajiem, bet arī nelietīgajiem. 19 Tā ir Dieva žēlastība, ja kāds, netaisnīgi ciezdams, panes bēdas, apzinoties Dieva klātbūtni. 20 Kāda gan slava ir, ja izturat, kad saņemat sitienus apgrēkošanās dēļ? Bet, ja izturat un ciešat laba darba dēļ, Dieva priekšā tā ir žēlastība. 21 Uz to jūs esat aicināti, jo arī Kristus ir cietis jūsu dēļ, atstādams jums paraugu, lai jūs sekotu viņa pēdās. 22 Viņš grēku nav darījis, nedz viltus ir skanējis no viņa mutes. 23 Kad viņu zākāja, viņš nezākāja pretī, ciezdams viņš nedraudēja, bet padevīgi nodeva sevi tiesātājam pēc likuma. 24 Viņš mūsu grēkus savā miesā labprātīgi uznesa pie krusta , lai mēs, miruši grēkiem, sāktu dzīvot taisnu dzīvi; ar viņa brūcēm jūs esat dziedināti. 25 Jūs bijāt kā klīstošas avis, bet tagad esat atgriezušies pie sava Gana un dvēseļu Sarga.
