1 Peter 2:11-3:7

New International Version

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹Dear friends,^(A) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^(B) to abstain from sinful desires,^(C) which wage war against your soul.^(D) ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^(E) and glorify God^(F) on the day he visits us.

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:^(G) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong^(H) and to commend those who do right.^(I) ¹⁵For it is God’s will^(J) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.^(K) ¹⁶Live as free people,^(L) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;^(M) live as God’s slaves.^(N) ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,^(O) fear God, honor the emperor.^(P)

¹⁸Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,^(Q) not only to those who are good and considerate,^(R) but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^(S) ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.^(T) ²¹To this^(U) you were called,^(V) because Christ suffered for you,^(W) leaving you an example,^(X) that you should follow in his steps.

²²“He committed no sin,^(Y)
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[a]^(Z)

²³When they hurled their insults at him,^(AA) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(AB) Instead, he entrusted himself^(AC) to him who judges justly.^(AD) ²⁴“He himself bore our sins”^(AE) in his body on the cross,^(AF) so that we might die to sins^(AG) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^(AH) ²⁵For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[b]^(AI) but now you have returned to the Shepherd^(AJ) and Overseer of your souls.^(AK)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves^(AL) to your own husbands^(AM) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over^(AN) without words by the behavior of their wives, ²when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.^(AO) ⁴Rather, it should be that of your inner self,^(AP) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.^(AQ) ⁵For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God^(AR) used to adorn themselves.^(AS) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.^(AT) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

⁷Husbands,^(AU) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.