1 Peter 2:11-24

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)