But you are a chosen race,[a][b](A) a royal priesthood,[c](B) a holy nation,[d](C) a people for his possession,[e](D) so that you may proclaim the praises[f][g](E) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(F) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy,(G) but now you have received mercy.

A Call to Good Works

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles(H) to abstain(I) from sinful(J) desires that wage war against the soul.(K) 12 Conduct(L) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,[h] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:9 Or generation, or nation
  2. 2:9 Dt 7:6; 10:15; Is 43:20 LXX
  3. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX; Is 61:6
  4. 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX
  5. 2:9 Ex 19:5; 23:22 LXX; Dt 4:20; 7:6; Is 43:21 LXX
  6. 2:9 Or the mighty deeds
  7. 2:9 Is 42:12; 43:21
  8. 2:12 Or among the nations, or among the pagans

But you are a chosen people,(A) a royal priesthood,(B) a holy nation,(C) God’s special possession,(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(E) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(F) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(G) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(H) to abstain from sinful desires,(I) which wage war against your soul.(J) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(K) and glorify God(L) on the day he visits us.

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