MODERN LITERAL VERSION

2:1 Therefore having placed away from yourselves all malice and all treachery and hypocrisies and envies and all slanders,
2:2 as newborn babies, long for the logical milk which is without treachery, that* you* may grow in it;
2:3 if indeed*, you* have tasted that the Lord is kind;
2:4 coming to him, a living stone, indeed rejected* by men, but with God chosen and precious.
2:5 You*, like living stones, are also built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 Because it is contained in Scripture, ‘Behold, I place in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious and he who believes in him may never* be ashamed.' {Is. 28:16}
2:7 Therefore to you* who believe is the honor, but to the disobedient, ‘ The stone which the builders rejected*, this became the head of the corner;' {Ps. 118:22}
2:8 and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense;' {Is. 8:14} to those who are stumbling in the word, being disobedient; also they were appointed* *for that.
2:9 But you* are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people *for God's ownership, *that you* may proclaim the virtues of him who called you* out of darkness into his marvelous light;
2:10 who previously were no people, but now are the people of God; who had not been shown-mercy, but now have been shown-mercy.

2:11 Beloved, I am encouraging you* to be like foreigners and travelers, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which are warring against the soul;
2:12 having your* good conduct seen among the Gentiles; that*, in what they are speaking against you*, like evildoers, they may (having been eyewitnesses from your* good works) glorify God in the day of visitation.

2:13 Therefore be subject to every human creation because of the Lord: whether to the king, as he is superior to you *;
2:14 or to governors, as they are sent through him *for vengeance on evildoers and praise of those who are doers of good.
2:15 Because so is the will of God, that by doing good you* might hush the ignorance of foolish men;
2:16 as free and yet not having your* freedom as a covering of malice, but as bondservants of God.
2:17 Honor all men. Love* the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

2:18 Domestic servants, be subject to your* masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked.
2:19 For* this is acceptable, if anyone undergoes sorrows because of his conscience toward God, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For* what credit is it, if, when you* are sinning and are battered for it, you* will endure it? But if, when you* are doing good and are suffering for it, you* will endure it; this is acceptable with God.
2:21 For* to this you* were called, because Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving you* a model, that* you* should follow in his footprints.
2:22 He who did no sin, nor was treachery found in his mouth;
2:23 who, when he was reviled, did not revile again in return; when suffering, did not threaten, but gave himself to him who judges righteously.
2:24 He, himself, carried our sins in his body upon the tree, that* we might live to righteousness, having died to sins; by whose wounds you* were healed.
2:25 For* you* were misled like sheep, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your* souls.