1 Peter 1:18-3:15

English Standard Version

¹⁸ knowing that you ^(A)were ransomed from ^(B)the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but ^(C)with the precious blood of Christ, like that of ^(D)a lamb ^(E)without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but ^(F)was made manifest ^(G)in the last times for the sake of you ^21 (H)who through him are believers in God, ^(I)who raised him from the dead and ^(J)gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for ^(K)a sincere brotherly love, ^(L)love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ^23 (M)since you have been born again, ^(N)not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through ^(O)the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

And this word ^(R)is the good news that was preached to you.

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 ^(S)So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ^2 (T)Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual ^(U)milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have ^(V)tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone ^(W)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ^5 (X)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as ^(Y)a spiritual house, to be ^(Z)a holy priesthood, ^(AA)to offer spiritual sacrifices ^(AB)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So the honor is for you who ^(AE)believe, but for those who ^(AF)do not believe,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, ^(AI)as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are ^(AJ)a chosen race, ^(AK)a royal ^(AL)priesthood, ^(AM)a holy nation, ^(AN)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(AO)out of darkness into ^(AP)his marvelous light. ^10 (AQ)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 ^(AR)as sojourners and exiles ^(AS)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ^(AT)which wage war against your soul. ^12 (AU)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(AV)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(AW)the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

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

^18 (BG)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, ^(BH)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(BI)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(BJ)to this you have been called, ^(BK)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(BL)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (BM)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (BN)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(BO)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (BP)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(BQ)might die to sin and ^(BR)live to righteousness. ^(BS)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(BT)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(BU)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, ^(BV)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(BW)even if some do not obey the word, ^(BX)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your ^(BY)respectful and pure conduct. ^3 (BZ)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be ^(CA)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(CB)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(CC)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷ Likewise, ^(CD)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(CE)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[e] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(CF)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(CG)brotherly love, ^(CH)a tender heart, and ^(CI)a humble mind. ^9 (CJ)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(CK)bless, for ^(CL)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(CN)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (CO)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(CP)Have no fear of them, ^(CQ)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(CR)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(CS)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(CT)respect,