OET-RV 1 PET Chapter 2

4 As you chosen people approach the living building-stone (which was rejected by humans yet chosen and honoured by God), 5 you’re being built into a temple and joining a holy group of priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Yeshua the messiah, 6 [ref]because it’s written in the scriptures:

‘Look, I’m placing a building-stone in Tsiyyon/Zion,

the vital cornerstone that’s chosen and honoured,

and anyone who believes in him certainly won’t be disgraced.’

7 [ref]To all of you who believe, this cornerstone is valuable, but to those who don’t believe:

‘The building-stone which the builders rejected

ended up becoming the vital cornerstone.’

8 and he’ll be:[ref]

‘A stone that people stumble over

and a rock that upsets people.’

They stumble because they won’t believe in the message—this is what was appointed for them.

9 [ref]But you believers are a chosen tribe, a group of royal priests, a holy nation, a people that God has procured, so that you can tell others about the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness and into his marvellous light. 10 [ref]Previously you weren’t a people group, but now you’re God’s people—previously you hadn’t been shown mercy, but now you have been.

11 Dear friends, I’m urging you as travellers and foreigners to keep away from the world’s temptations, which are in a battle against your soul. 12 Even as you, friends, live among the world’s people, maintain your good conduct so that when they slander you by calling you ‘evil’, at the time of God’s judgement they’ll have to honour god when they see your good behaviour.

13 Submit yourselves to every human authority, because you obey the master, whether it’s to the king who rules, 14 or the governors he sends to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 God’s wants you chosen people to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by doing good. 16 Live like free people, but don’t use that freedom to cover up evil—use it as God’s slaves. 17 Honour others and be loving towards your fellow believers. Revere God as well as honouring the king.

18 You who are house-servants should respectfully obey your masters—not only the good and gentle ones, but also the crooked ones, 19 because God favours those who endure unjust hardships because of their godly consciences. 20 What good would it do if you were enduring being beaten because of doing evil? But if you endure suffering for doing good, then God will be pleased with your behaviour, 21 because that’s what we’re called to, because the messiah also suffered for you chosen people. He left an example for you, so that you can follow in his steps: 22 [ref]he didn’t do evil or say anything that wasn’t true, 23 [ref]when he was insulted he didn’t retaliate, when he was persecuted he didn’t threaten, but put his trust in the one who’ll judge everyone with true justice. 24 [ref]He sacrificed his own body on the wooden post for our sins, so that when we die to sin we can live for righteousness. By his wounds, you chosen people were healed. 25 He did all that because you were like lost sheep, but now you’ve returned to your souls’ shepherd and overseer.