Living Before the World

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts (A)which war against the soul, 12 (B)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, (C)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government(D)

13 (E)Therefore submit yourselves to every [a]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 (F)as free, yet not (G)using liberty as a cloak for [b]vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear (H)God. Honor the king.

Submission to Masters(I)

18 (J)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is (K)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For (L)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For (M)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [c]us, (N)leaving [d]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who(O) committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

23 (P)who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but (Q)committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 (R)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, (S)that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—(T)by whose [e]stripes you were healed. 25 For (U)you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned (V)to the Shepherd and [f]Overseer of your souls.

Submission to Husbands

Wives, likewise, be (W)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, (X)they, without a word, may (Y)be won by the conduct of their wives,

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:13 institution
  2. 1 Peter 2:16 wickedness
  3. 1 Peter 2:21 NU you
  4. 1 Peter 2:21 NU, M you
  5. 1 Peter 2:24 wounds
  6. 1 Peter 2:25 Gr. Episkopos

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(A) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(B) to abstain from sinful desires,(C) which wage war against your soul.(D) 12 Live 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.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(G) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(H) and to commend those who do right.(I) 15 For it is God’s will(J) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(K) 16 Live as free people,(L) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(M) live as God’s slaves.(N) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(O) fear God, honor the emperor.(P)

18 Slaves, 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. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(S) 20 But 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) 21 To 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)

23 When 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) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b](AI) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(AJ) and Overseer of your souls.(AK)

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(AL) to your own husbands(AM) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(AN) without words by the behavior of their wives,

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  2. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)

28 (A)There is neither Jew nor Greek, (B)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all (C)one in Christ Jesus.

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28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(A) nor is there male and female,(B) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(C)

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22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (A)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (B)Christ’s slave.

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22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(A) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(B)

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31 Then (A)God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Garden of Eden

Thus the heavens and the earth, and (B)all the host of them, were finished. (C)And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

31 God saw all that he had made,(A) and it was very good.(B) And there was evening, and there was morning(C)—the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.(D)

By the seventh day(E) God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.(F)

27 So God created man (A)in His own image; in the image of God He created him; (B)male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, (C)“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and (D)subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [a]moves on the earth.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:28 moves about on

27 So God created(A) mankind(B) in his own image,(C)
    in the image of God(D) he created them;
    male and female(E) he created them.(F)

28 God blessed them and said to them,(G) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(H) fill the earth(I) and subdue it. Rule over(J) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(K)

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15 Then the Lord God took [a]the man and put him in the garden of Eden to [b]tend and keep it.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 2:15 Or Adam
  2. Genesis 2:15 cultivate

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden(A) to work it and take care of it.

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17 Then to Adam He said, (A)“Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree (B)of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

(C)“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
(D)In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall [a]bring forth for you,
And (E)you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 (F)In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
(G)For dust you are,
And (H)to dust you shall return.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 3:18 cause to grow

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’(A)

“Cursed(B) is the ground(C) because of you;
    through painful toil(D) you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life.(E)
18 It will produce thorns and thistles(F) for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.(G)
19 By the sweat of your brow(H)
    you will eat your food(I)
until you return to the ground,
    since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
    and to dust you will return.”(J)

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Bondservants and Masters

(A)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, (B)with fear and trembling, (C)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; (D)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that [a]your own (F)Master also is in heaven, and (G)there is no partiality with Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:9 NU He who is both their Master and yours is

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(A) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(B) just as you would obey Christ.(C) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(D) doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(E) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(F) whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(G) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(H) with him.

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22 (A)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 (B)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 (C)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; (D)for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and (E)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

Masters,(F) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:24 NU omits for

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(A) from the Lord as a reward.(B) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(C)

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(D) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Honor Masters

Let as many (A)bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

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All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,(A) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.(B) Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.(C) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[a] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service

Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged

Come now, you (A)rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your (B)riches [a]are corrupted, and (C)your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (D)You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed (E)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and (F)the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of [b]Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and [c]luxury; you have [d]fattened your hearts [e]as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:2 have rotted
  2. James 5:4 Lit., in Heb., Hosts
  3. James 5:5 indulgence
  4. James 5:5 Lit. nourished
  5. James 5:5 NU omits as

Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now listen,(A) you rich people,(B) weep and wail(C) because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(D) Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(E) Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(F) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(G) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(H) You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(I) in the day of slaughter.[a](J) You have condemned and murdered(K) the innocent one,(L) who was not opposing you.

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting