^9 (A)Bondservants^[a] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(B)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,

^18 (A)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, ^(B)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 ^(C)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(D)to this you have been called, ^(E)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(F)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (G)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (H)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(I)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (J)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(K)might die to sin and ^(L)live to righteousness. ^(M)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(N)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(O)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

6 ^(A)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants^[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, ^(B)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. ² Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^(C)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

^(D)Teach and urge these things.

²² Bondservants, obey ^(A)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (B)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(C)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(D)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(E)You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (A)Bondservants,^[a] obey your earthly masters^[b] with fear and trembling, ^(B)with a sincere heart, ^(C)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(D)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8 (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(F)whether he is a bondservant or is free.

²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(A)in everything to their husbands.