1 Peter 2:11-25

English Standard Version

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you ^(A)as sojourners and exiles ^(B)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ^(C)which wage war against your soul. ^12 (D)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(E)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(F)the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

^13 (G)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(H)to punish those who do evil and ^(I)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, ^(J)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16 (K)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(L)living as servants^[c] of God. ^17 (M)Honor everyone. ^(N)Love the brotherhood. ^(O)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

^18 (P)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(Q)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(R)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(S)to this you have been called, ^(T)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(U)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (V)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (W)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(X)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (Y)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(Z)might die to sin and ^(AA)live to righteousness. ^(AB)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(AC)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(AD)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.