1 Peter 2:11-17

English Standard Version

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

Submission to Authority

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

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Footnotes

1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people
1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17
1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface