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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 honourable, 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)Honour everyone. (N)Love the brotherhood. (O)Fear God. Honour 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.

Wives and Husbands

Likewise, wives, (AE)be subject to your own husbands, so that (AF)even if some do not obey the word, (AG)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your (AH)respectful and pure conduct. (AI)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be (AJ)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (AK)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and (AL)do not fear anything that is frightening.

Likewise, (AM)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker (AN)vessel, since they are heirs with you[d] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

Finally, all of you, (AO)have unity of mind, sympathy, (AP)brotherly love, (AQ)a tender heart, and (AR)a humble mind. (AS)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, (AT)bless, for (AU)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

(AV)“Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people
  2. 1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17
  3. 1 Peter 2:16 Greek bondservants
  4. 1 Peter 3:7 Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs