1 Peter 2:12-16
New King James Version
12 (A)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, (B)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submission to Government(C)
13 (D)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 (E)as free, yet not (F)using liberty as a cloak for [b]vice, but as bondservants of God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Peter 2:13 institution
- 1 Peter 2:16 wickedness
1 Peter 2:12-16
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.[a]
13 For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution,[b] whether of the emperor as supreme, 14 or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants[c] of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Peter 2:12 Gk God on the day of visitation
- 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for human beings
- 1 Peter 2:16 Gk slaves
1 Peter 2:12-16
Easy-to-Read Version
12 People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the day he comes.
Obey Every Human Authority
13 Be willing to serve the people who have authority[a] in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, the highest authority. 14 And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good. 15 When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what God wants. 16 Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Peter 2:13 people … authority Literally, “every human creation,” meaning rulers, governors, presidents, or other government leaders.
1 Peter 2:12-16
Complete Jewish Bible
12 but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evil-doers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming. 13 For the sake of the Lord, submit yourselves to every human authority — whether to the emperor as being supreme, 14 or to governors as being sent by him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will that your doing good should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Submit as people who are free, but not letting your freedom serve as an excuse for evil; rather, submit as God’s slaves.
Read full chapterScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.