1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Jiwe Lililo Hai Na Watu Waliochaguliwa
12:1 Efe 4:22; Yak 4:11Kwa hiyo, wekeni mbali nanyi uovu wote na udanganyifu wote, unafiki, wivu na masingizio ya kila namna. 22:2 1Kor 3:2; Ebr 5:12-13; Efe 4:15-16Kama watoto wachanga, waliozaliwa sasa, yatamanini maziwa ya kiroho yasiyochanganywa na kitu kingine chochote, ili kwa hayo mpate kukua katika wokovu, 32:3 Za 34:8; Ebr 6:5ikiwa kweli mmeonja ya kwamba Bwana ni mwema.
42:4 Za 118:22; Mt 21:42; Mdo 4:11Mnapokuja kwake, yeye aliye Jiwe lililo hai, lililokataliwa na wanadamu bali kwa Mungu ni teule na la thamani kwake, 52:5 Mit 9:1; Efe 2:20-22; 1Tim 3:15; Kut 19:6; Ufu 5:10; Ebr 13:15ninyi nanyi, kama mawe yaliyo hai, mnajengwa kuwa nyumba ya kiroho, ili mpate kuwa ukuhani mtakatifu, mkitoa dhabihu za kiroho zinazokubaliwa na Mungu kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo. 62:6 Efe 2:20; Rum 10:11Kwa maana imeandikwa katika Maandiko:
“Tazama, naweka katika Sayuni,
jiwe la pembeni teule lenye thamani,
na yeyote atakayemwamini
hataaibika kamwe.”
72:7 2Kor 2:16; Mdo 4:11Kwenu ninyi mnaoamini, jiwe hili ni la thamani. Lakini kwao wasioamini,
“Jiwe walilolikataa waashi
limekuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni,”
82:8 Isa 8:14; 1Kor 1:23; Rum 9:22tena,
“Jiwe lenye kuwafanya watu wajikwae,
na mwamba wa kuwaangusha.”
Wanajikwaa kwa sababu hawakulitii lile neno, kama walivyowekewa tangu zamani.
92:9 1Sam 12:22; Kut 19:6; Mdo 26:18Lakini ninyi ni taifa teule, ukuhani wa kifalme, taifa takatifu, watu walio milki ya Mungu, mlioitwa ili kutangaza sifa zake yeye aliyewaita kutoka gizani mkaingie katika nuru yake ya ajabu. 102:10 Rum 9:25-26; Hos 1:9, 10; 2:23Mwanzo ninyi mlikuwa si taifa, lakini sasa ninyi ni taifa la Mungu. Mwanzo mlikuwa hamjapata rehema, lakini sasa mmepata rehema.
112:11 Rum 13:14; Yak 4:1Wapenzi, ninawasihi, mkiwa kama wageni na wapitaji hapa ulimwenguni, epukeni tamaa mbaya za mwili ambazo hupigana vita na roho zenu. 122:12 Tit 2:8, 14; Mt 5:16; 9:8Kuweni na mwenendo mzuri mbele ya watu wasiomjua Mungu, ili kama wanawasingizia kuwa watenda mabaya, wayaone matendo yenu mema nao wamtukuze Mungu siku atakapokuja kwetu.
Kuwatii Wenye Mamlaka
132:13 Tit 3:1; Rum 13:1; Mt 22:21Kwa ajili ya Bwana, tiini kila mamlaka iliyowekwa na wanadamu: Kwa mfalme kwani ndiye aliye na mamlaka ya juu zaidi, 142:14 Rum 13:3-4au kwa maafisa aliowaweka, kwa kuwa mfalme amewatuma ili kuwaadhibu wale wanaokosa, na kuwapongeza wale watendao mema. 152:15 1Pet 3:17; 4:19Kwa maana ni mapenzi ya Mungu kwamba kwa kutenda mema mnyamazishe maneno ya kijinga ya watu wapumbavu. 162:16 Yn 8:32; Rum 6:22Ishini kama watu huru, lakini msitumie uhuru wenu kama kisingizio cha kutenda uovu, bali ishini kama watumishi wa Mungu. 172:17 Rum 12:10; Mit 24:21; 1Pet 2:18; Efe 6:5; Yak 3:17Mheshimuni kila mtu ipasavyo: Wapendeni jamaa ya ndugu waumini, mcheni Mungu, mpeni heshima mfalme.
182:18 1Kor 6:20; 7:23; Eze 20:18; 1Pet 4:3Ninyi watumwa, watiini mabwana zenu kwa heshima yote, si wale mabwana walio wema na wapole peke yao, bali pia wale walio wakali. 192:19 1Pet 3:14-17; Mt 5:10; Rum 13:5; 1Pet 3:14Kwa maana ni jambo la sifa kama mtu akivumilia anapoteswa kwa uonevu kwa ajili ya Mungu. 202:20 1Pet 3:14; 4:14, 15Kwani ni faida gani kwa mtu kustahimili anapopigwa kwa sababu ya makosa yake? Lakini kama mkiteswa kwa sababu ya kutenda mema, nanyi mkastahimili, hili ni jambo la kusifiwa mbele za Mungu.
Mfano Wa Mateso Ya Kristo
212:21 Flp 1:29; Mt 11:29Ninyi mliitwa kwa ajili ya haya, kwa sababu Kristo naye aliteswa kwa ajili yenu, akiwaachia kielelezo, ili mzifuate nyayo zake.
222:22 Isa 53:7-9“Yeye hakutenda dhambi,
wala hila haikuonekana kinywani mwake.”
232:23 Lk 23:46Yeye alipotukanwa, hakurudisha matukano; alipoteswa, hakutishia, bali alijikabidhi kwa yeye ahukumuye kwa haki. 242:24 Isa 53:4-11; Rum 6:2; Za 103:3; Ebr 12:13Yeye mwenyewe alizichukua dhambi zetu katika mwili wake juu ya mti, ili tufe kwa mambo ya dhambi, bali tupate kuishi katika haki. Kwa kupigwa kwake, ninyi mmeponywa. 252:25 Isa 53:6; Yn 10:11Kwa maana mlikuwa mmepotea kama kondoo, lakini sasa mmerudi kwa Mchungaji na Mwangalizi wa roho zenu.
