Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious[1]: 4coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Allah, precious. 5You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Allah through ‘Isa al-Masih. 6Because it is contained in Al-Kitab,
“Behold, I lay in Al-Quds a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious:
Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.“[2]
7For you therefore who believe is the honour, but for such as are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,“[3]
8and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.“[4]
For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, for which also they were appointed. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Allah’s own possession,[5]that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10In time past you were not his people, but now you are the people of Allah. Before, you had not obtained mercy, but now you have obtained mercy. 11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 12Have such good behaviour among the nations that even though they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify Allah in the day he visits them. 13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. 15For this is the will of Allah, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16as free men, though not using your freedom as a cloak of wickedness, but as slaves of Allah.
17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear Allah. Honour the king. 18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward Allah. 20For what good is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if for doing right you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with Allah. 21For to this you were called, because al-Masih also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.“[6] 23Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; 24who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose wounds you were healed[7]. 25For you were going astray like sheep;[8] but are now returned to the Shepherd and Imam[9] of your souls.
[1] 2:3 See the Zabur 34:8.
[2] 2:6 Quoting the prophet Shaya 28:16.
[3] 2:7 Quoting the Zabur 118:22.
[4] 2:8 Quoting the prophet Shaya 8:14.
[5] 2:9 Taurat, Exodus 19:6.
[6] 2:22 Quoting the prophet Shaya 53:9.
[7] 2:24 See the Taurat, Shaya 53:5
[8] 2:25 See the Taurat, Shaya 53:6.
[9] 2:25 In Greek, episkopon, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.