Honor Authority

^13 (A)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[a]by him ^(B)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(C)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[b](D)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(E)silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Act as ^(F)free people, and ^[c]do not use your freedom as a ^[d]covering for evil, but use it as ^(G)bond-servants of God. ^17 (H)Honor all people, ^(I)love the brotherhood, ^(J)fear God, ^(K)honor the ^[e]king.

^18 (L)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(M)gentle, but also to those who are ^[f]harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(N)conscience toward God a person endures ^[g]grief when suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(O)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

²¹ For ^(P)you have been called for this purpose, ^(Q)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(R)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who ^(S)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [h]and while being ^(T)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself ^[i](U)brought our sins in His body up on the ^[j](V)cross, so that we ^(W)might die to ^[k]sin and live for righteousness; ^(X)by His ^[l]wounds you were ^(Y)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(Z)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(AA)Shepherd and ^[m]Guardian of your souls.