The Daily Audio Bible

¹¹ Dearly beloveds, I beseech you: as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul. ¹² And see that you lead virtuous lives among the Gentiles, so that those who backbite you as evil-doers may see your good works and praise God in the day of visitation.

¹³ Submit yourselves to every human authority, for the Lord’s sake – whether it be to the king as to the chief head, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, but for the praise of those who do well. ¹⁵ For so is the will of God, so that you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – ¹⁶ as free, and not as having freedom for a cloak of evil, but even as the servants of God.

¹⁷ Honour all people. Love brotherly fellowship. Fear God, and honour the king.

¹⁸ Servants, obey your masters with all fear, not only if they are good and kind, but also though they be ill-natured. ¹⁹ For it is meritorious if a person for conscience towards God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For how is it praiseworthy if when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? But if when you do well you suffer wrong, and take it patiently, then is there favour with God.

²¹ For to this indeed you have been called. For Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps – ²² who did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth; ²³ who, when he was reviled, reviled not in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed the cause to him who judges righteously. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we may be delivered from sin and live in righteousness; by his stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

How wives ought to order themselves toward their husbands and in their apparel. The duty of men toward their wives. He exhorts them all to unite and to love, and patiently to suffer trouble. Of baptism.

3 Likewise, let the wives be subject to their husbands, so that even those who do not believe in the word may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives, ² when they see your pure living coupled with fear.

³ Your adornment should not be outward, with broided hair and hanging on of gold, or in putting on gorgeous apparel, ⁴ but let the hid man of the heart be incorrupt, with a meek and quiet spirit – which spirit is before God a thing much set by. ⁵ For after this manner in the old time did the holy women who trusted in God attire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands, ⁶ even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him Lord – whose daughters you are as long as you do well, not being afraid of every shadow.

⁷ Likewise, ye men, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife as to the weaker vessel, and as to those who are heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers be not hindered.