1 Peter 2:12-23

New American Standard Bible

^12 (A)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(B)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[a]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(C)glorify God ^(D)on the day of ^[b]visitation.

Honor Authority

^13 (E)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 ^[c]by him ^(F)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(G)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[d](H)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(I)silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Act as ^(J)free people, and ^[e]do not use your freedom as a ^[f]covering for evil, but use it as ^(K)bond-servants of God. ^17 (L)Honor all people, ^(M)love the brotherhood, ^(N)fear God, ^(O)honor the ^[g]king.

^18 (P)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(Q)gentle, but also to those who are ^[h]harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(R)conscience toward God a person endures ^[i]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 ^(S)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 ^(T)you have been called for this purpose, ^(U)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(V)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who ^(W)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [j]and while being ^(X)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;