1 Peter 2:23 - 2 Peter 2:22

English Standard Version

^23 (A)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(B)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (C)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(D)might die to sin and ^(E)live to righteousness. ^(F)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(G)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(H)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, ^(I)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(J)even if some do not obey the word, ^(K)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your ^(L)respectful and pure conduct. ^3 (M)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be ^(N)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(O)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(P)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷ Likewise, ^(Q)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(R)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(S)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(T)brotherly love, ^(U)a tender heart, and ^(V)a humble mind. ^9 (W)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(X)bless, for ^(Y)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(AA)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (AB)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(AC)Have no fear of them, ^(AD)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(AE)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(AF)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(AG)respect, ^16 (AH)having a good conscience, so that, ^(AI)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(AJ)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(AK)suffered^{[b] (AL)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(AM)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(AN)in the flesh but made alive ^(AO)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[c] he went and ^(AP)proclaimed^[d] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[e] they formerly did not obey, ^(AQ)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(AR)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(AS)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(AT)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(AU)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(AV)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(AW)is at the right hand of God, ^(AX)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(AY)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[f] (AZ)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(BA)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(BB)has ceased from sin, ^2 (BC)so as to live for ^(BD)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(BE)no longer for human passions but ^(BF)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(BG)suffices ^(BH)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^(BI)debauchery, and ^(BJ)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(BK)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why ^(BL)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

^7 (BM)The end of all things is at hand; therefore ^(BN)be self-controlled and sober-minded ^(BO)for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since ^(BP)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (BQ)Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ^10 (BR)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, ^(BS)as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks ^(BT)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ^(BU)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything ^(BV)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^(BW)To him belong glory and ^(BX)dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(BY)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(BZ)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(CA)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (CB)If you are insulted ^(CC)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[g] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(CD)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(CE)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(CF)if anyone suffers as a ^(CG)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(CH)in that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(CI)to begin at the household of God; and ^(CJ)if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who ^(CK)do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will ^(CM)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, ^(CN)as a fellow elder and ^(CO)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ^2 (CP)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[i] (CQ)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[j] (CR)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not ^(CS)domineering over those in your charge, but ^(CT)being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when ^(CU)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(CV)unfading ^(CW)crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^(CX)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^(CY)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

^6 (CZ)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ^7 (DA)casting all your anxieties on him, because ^(DB)he cares for you. ^8 (DC)Be sober-minded; ^(DD)be watchful. Your ^(DE)adversary the devil ^(DF)prowls around ^(DG)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 (DH)Resist him, ^(DI)firm in your faith, knowing that ^(DJ)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And ^(DK)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, ^(DL)who has called you to his ^(DM)eternal glory in Christ, will himself ^(DN)restore, ^(DO)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ^11 (DP)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹² By ^(DQ)Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, ^(DR)I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is ^(DS)the true grace of God. ^(DT)Stand firm in it. ¹³ She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does ^(DU)Mark, my son. ^14 (DV)Greet one another with the kiss of love.

^(DW)Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Greeting

1 Simeon^[k] Peter, a servant^[l] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained ^(DX)a faith of equal standing with ours ^(DY)by the righteousness of our ^(DZ)God and Savior Jesus Christ:

^2 (EA)May grace and peace be multiplied to you ^(EB)in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him ^(EC)who called us to^[m] his own glory and excellence,^{[n] 4} by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become ^(ED)partakers of the divine nature, ^(EE)having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith ^(EF)with virtue,^[o] and virtue ^(EG)with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control ^(EH)with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness ^(EI)with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection ^(EJ)with love. ⁸ For if these qualities^[p] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or ^(EK)unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he ^(EL)is blind, having forgotten that he was ^(EM)cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,^[q] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and ^(EN)election, for if you practice these qualities ^(EO)you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you ^(EP)an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² Therefore I intend ^(EQ)always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in ^(ER)the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this ^(ES)body,^{[r] (ET)}to stir you up by way of reminder, ^14 (EU)since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, ^(EV)as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

¹⁶ For we did not follow ^(EW)cleverly devised ^(EX)myths when we made known to you ^(EY)the power and ^(EZ)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but ^(FA)we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ^(FB)“This is my beloved Son,^[s] with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on ^(FC)the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And ^(FD)we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention ^(FE)as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until ^(FF)the day ^(FG)dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For ^(FH)no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God ^(FI)as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(FJ)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(FK)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(FL)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(FM)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^(FN)will be blasphemed. ³ And ^(FO)in their greed they will exploit you ^(FP)with false words. ^(FQ)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

⁴ For if God did not spare ^(FR)angels when they sinned, but ^(FS)cast them into hell^[t] and committed them to chains^[u] of gloomy darkness ^(FT)to be kept until the judgment; ⁵ if he did not spare the ancient world, but ^(FU)preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought ^(FV)a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ if by ^(FW)turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, ^(FX)making them an example of ^(FY)what is going to happen to the ungodly;^{[v] 7} and ^(FZ)if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, ^(GA)he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ⁹ then ^(GB)the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,^[w] and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially ^(GC)those who indulge^[x] in the lust of defiling passion and ^(GD)despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble ^(GE)as they blaspheme the glorious ones, ^11 (GF)whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. ^12 (GG)But these, like irrational animals, ^(GH)creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(GI)the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure ^(GJ)to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,^[y] while ^(GK)they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery,^{[z] (GL)}insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts ^(GM)trained in greed. ^(GN)Accursed children! ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, ^(GO)they have gone astray. They have followed ^(GP)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(GQ)gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; ^(GR)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

^17 (GS)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. ^(GT)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, ^(GU)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(GV)escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them ^(GW)freedom, ^(GX)but they themselves are slaves^[aa] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, ^(GY)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(GZ)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(HA)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For ^(HB)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(HC)the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The ^(HD)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”