Deponentes igitur omnem malitiam, et omnem dolum, et simulationes, et invidias, et omnes detractiones,

Wherefore laying away all malice, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envies, and all detractions,

You must put aside, then, every trace of ill-will and deceitfulness, your affectations, the grudges you bore, and all the slanderous talk;

sicut modo geniti infantes, rationabile, sine dolo lac concupiscite: ut in eo crescatis in salutem:

As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

you are children new-born, and all your craving must be for the soul’s pure milk, that will nurture you into salvation,

si tamen gustastis quoniam dulcis est Dominus.

If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

once you have tasted, as you have surely tasted, the goodness of the Lord.

Ad quem accedentes lapidem vivum, ab hominibus quidem reprobatum, a Deo autem electum, et honorificatum:

Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:

Draw near to him; he is the living antitype of that stone which men rejected, which God has chosen and prized;

et ipsi tamquam lapides vivi superædificamini, domus spiritualis, sacerdotium sanctum, offerre spirituales hostias, acceptabiles Deo per Jesum Christum.

Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

you too must be built up on him, stones that live and breathe, into a spiritual fabric; you must be a holy priesthood, to offer up that spiritual sacrifice which God accepts through Jesus Christ.

Propter quod continet Scriptura: Ecce pono in Sion lapidem summum angularem, electum, pretiosum: et qui crediderit in eum, non confundetur.

Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.

So you will find in scripture the words, Behold, I am setting down in Sion a corner-stone, chosen out and precious; those who believe in him will not be disappointed.

Vobis igitur honor credentibus: non credentibus autem lapis, quem reprobaverunt ædificantes: hic factus est in caput anguli,

To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

Prized, then, by you, the believers, he is something other to those who refuse belief; the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief stone at the corner,

et lapis offensionis, et petra scandali, his qui offendunt verbo, nec credunt in quo et positi sunt.

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.

a stone to trip men’s feet, a boulder they stumble against. They stumble over God’s word, and refuse it belief; it is their destiny.

Vos autem genus electum, regale sacerdotium, gens sancta, populus acquisitionis: ut virtutes annuntietis ejus qui de tenebris vos vocavit in admirabile lumen suum.

But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Not so you; you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people God means to have for himself; it is yours to proclaim the exploits of the God who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Qui aliquando non populus, nunc autem populus Dei: qui non consecuti misericordiam, nunc autem misericordiam consecuti.

Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.

Time was when you were not a people at all, now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, and now his pity is yours.

Carissimi, obsecro vos tamquam advenas et peregrinos abstinere vos a carnalibus desideriis, quæ militant adversus animam,

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,

Beloved, I call upon you to be like strangers and exiles, to resist those natural appetites which besiege the soul.

conversationem vestram inter gentes habentes bonam: ut in eo quod detrectant de vobis tamquam de malefactoribus, ex bonis operibus vos considerantes, glorificent Deum in die visitationis.

Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Your life amidst the Gentiles must be beyond reproach; decried as malefactors, you must let them see, from your honourable behaviour, what you are; they will praise God for you, when his time comes to have mercy on them.

Subjecti igitur estote omni humanæ creaturæ propter Deum: sive regi quasi præcellenti:

Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling;

For love of the Lord, then, bow to every kind of human authority; to the king, who enjoys the chief power,

sive ducibus tamquam ab eo missis ad vindictam malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum:

Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good:

and to the magistrates who hold his commission to punish criminals and encourage honest men.

quia sic est voluntas Dei, ut benefacientes obmutescere faciatis imprudentium hominum ignorantiam:

For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

To silence, by honest living, the ignorant chatter of fools; that is what God expects of you.

quasi liberi, et non quasi velamen habentes malitiæ libertatem, sed sicut servi Dei.

As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.

Free men, but the liberty you enjoy is not to be made a pretext for wrong-doing; it is to be used in God’s service.

Omnes honorate: fraternitatem diligite: Deum timete: regem honorificate.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Give all men their due; to the brethren, your love; to God, your reverence; to the king, due honour.

Servi, subditi estote in omni timore dominis, non tantum bonis et modestis, sed etiam dyscolis.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

You who are slaves must be submissive to your masters, and shew all respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but to those who are hard to please.

Hæc est enim gratia, si propter Dei conscientiam sustinet quis tristitias, patiens injuste.

For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

It does a man credit when he bears undeserved ill treatment with the thought of God in his heart.

Quæ enim est gloria, si peccantes, et colaphizati suffertis? sed si bene facientes patienter sustinetis, hæc est gratia apud Deum.

For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.

If you do wrong and are punished for it, your patience is nothing to boast of; it is the patience of the innocent sufferer that wins credit in God’s sight.

In hoc enim vocati estis: quia et Christus passus est pro nobis, vobis relinquens exemplum ut sequamini vestigia ejus:

For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.

Indeed, you are engaged to this by the call of Christ; he suffered for our sakes, and left you his own example; you were to follow in his footsteps.

qui peccatum non fecit, nec inventus est dolus in ore ejus:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

He did no wrong, no treachery was found on his lips;

qui cum malediceretur, non maledicebat: cum pateretur, non comminabatur: tradebat autem judicanti se injuste:

Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.

he was ill spoken of, and spoke no evil in return, suffered, and did not threaten vengeance, gave himself up into the hands of injustice.

qui peccata nostra ipse pertulit in corpore suo super lignum; ut peccatis mortui, justitiæ vivamus: cujus livore sanati estis.

Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.

So, on the cross, his own body took the weight of our sins; we were to become dead to our sins, and live for holiness; it was his wounds that healed you.

Eratis enim sicut oves errantes, sed conversi estis nunc ad pastorem, et episcopum animarum vestrarum.

For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Till then, you had been like sheep going astray; now, you have been brought back to him, your shepherd, who keeps watch over your souls.