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.

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)