CHAPTER 2
1 Therefore put ye away all malice, and all guile, and feignings [or simulations], and envies, and all backbitings [or detractions];
2 as now born young children, reasonable, without guile, covet ye milk [of full teaching], that in it ye wax into health;
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;
5 and ye yourselves as quick 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 [or put] in Zion the highest cornerstone, chosen and precious; and he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.
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;
8 and the stone of hurting, and the stone of stumbling, to them that offend to the word, neither believe it, in which they be set.
9 But ye be a chosen kin [or ye be a kind chosen], a kingly priesthood, holy folk, a people of purchasing, that ye tell the virtues of him, that called you from darknesses 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, I beseech you, as comelings [or as guests], 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.
13 Be ye subject to each creature 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 unknowing-ness of unprudent [or unwise] men to be dumb.
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 brotherhood, dread ye God, honour ye the king.
18 Servants, be ye subject in all dread to lords, not only to good and to mild, 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 ensample to you, that ye follow the steps of him.
22 Which did not sin, neither guile was found in 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.
24 And he himself bare [or suffered] our sins in his body on a tree, 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 bishop of your souls.