¹⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord ^[a]God,

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

As Living Stones

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(A)rejected by men, 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 up spiritual sacrifices 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 those who disbelieve,

⁸ and,

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

⁹ But you are ^(N)a chosen race, 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)aliens 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 ^[f]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(AA)glorify God ^(AB)in the day of ^[g]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 ^[h]by him ^(AD)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(AE)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[i](AF)such is the will of God that by doing right you may ^(AG)silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶ Act as ^(AH)free men, and ^[j]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(AI)bondslaves of God. ^17 (AJ)Honor all people, ^(AK)love the brotherhood, ^(AL)fear God, ^(AM)honor the ^[k]king.

^18 (AN)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(AO)gentle, but also to those who are ^[l]unreasonable. ¹⁹ For this finds ^[m]favor, if for the sake of ^(AP)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows 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 ^[n]favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

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