¹⁶ Therefore this is what the Lord ^[a]God says:

²⁰ having been ^(A)built on ^(B)the foundation of ^(C)the apostles and prophets, ^(D)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(E)cornerstone,

As Living Stones

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(A)rejected by people, but is ^[a]choice and precious in the sight of God, ^5 (B)you also, as living stones, ^[b]are being built up as a ^(C)spiritual house for a holy ^(D)priesthood, to ^(E)offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in ^[c]Scripture:

^7 (H)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

⁸ and,

^(L)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^(M)and to this they were also appointed.

⁹ But you are ^(N)a chosen people, a royal ^(O)priesthood, a ^(P)holy nation, ^(Q)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(R)out of darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (S)for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

^11 (T)Beloved, ^(U)I urge you as ^(V)foreigners and strangers to abstain from ^(W)fleshly lusts, which wage ^(X)war against the soul. ^12 (Y)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(Z)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[g]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(AA)glorify God ^(AB)on the day of ^[h]visitation.

Honor Authority

^13 (AC)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[i]by him ^(AD)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(AE)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[j](AF)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(AG)silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Act as ^(AH)free people, and ^[k]do not use your freedom as a ^[l]covering for evil, but use it as ^(AI)bond-servants of God. ^17 (AJ)Honor all people, ^(AK)love the brotherhood, ^(AL)fear God, ^(AM)honor the ^[m]king.

^18 (AN)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(AO)gentle, but also to those who are ^[n]harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(AP)conscience toward God a person endures ^[o]grief when suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(AQ)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

²¹ For ^(AR)you have been called for this purpose, ^(AS)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(AT)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who ^(AU)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [p]and while being ^(AV)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself ^[q](AW)brought our sins in His body up on the ^[r](AX)cross, so that we ^(AY)might die to ^[s]sin and live for righteousness; ^(AZ)by His ^[t]wounds you were ^(BA)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(BB)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(BC)Shepherd and ^[u]Guardian of your souls.