1 Peter 2:9-19

English Standard Version

⁹ But you are ^(A)a chosen race, ^(B)a royal ^(C)priesthood, ^(D)a holy nation, ^(E)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(F)out of darkness into ^(G)his marvelous light. ^10 (H)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you ^(I)as sojourners and exiles ^(J)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ^(K)which wage war against your soul. ^12 (L)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(M)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(N)the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

^13 (O)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(P)to punish those who do evil and ^(Q)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, ^(R)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16 (S)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(T)living as servants^[c] of God. ^17 (U)Honor everyone. ^(V)Love the brotherhood. ^(W)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

^18 (X)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(Y)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.