1 Peter 2:13-25

English Standard Version

Submission to Authority

¹³^(A)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 ^(B)to punish those who do evil and ^(C)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, ^(D)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶^(E)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(F)living as servants^[c] of God. ¹⁷^(G)Honor everyone. ^(H)Love the brotherhood. ^(I)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

¹⁸^(J)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(K)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(L)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For ^(M)to this you have been called, ^(N)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(O)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²²^(P)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³^(Q)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(R)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴^(S)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(T)might die to sin and ^(U)live to righteousness. ^(V)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For ^(W)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(X)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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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

Ecclesiastes 10

English Standard Version

10 Dead flies make ^(A)the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
²^(B)A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
    but a fool's heart to the left.
³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
    and he ^(C)says to everyone that he is a fool.
⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, ^(D)do not leave your place,
    ^(E)for calmness^[a] will lay great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were ^(F)an error proceeding from the ruler: ⁶^(G)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷^(H)I have seen slaves ^(I)on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸He who ^(J)digs a pit will fall into it,
    and ^(K)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
⁹^(L)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
    and he who ^(M)splits logs is endangered by them.
¹⁰If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
    he must use more strength,
    but wisdom helps one to succeed.^[b]
¹¹If the serpent bites before it is ^(N)charmed,
    there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth ^(O)win him favor,^[c]
    but ^(P)the lips of a fool consume him.
¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
    and the end of his talk is evil madness.
¹⁴^(Q)A fool multiplies words,
    though no man knows what is to be,
    and who can tell him ^(R)what will be after him?
¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,
    for he does not know ^(S)the way to the city.

¹⁶^(T)Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
    and your princes feast in the morning!
¹⁷Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
    and your princes feast at the proper time,
    for strength, and not for ^(U)drunkenness!
¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through indolence the house leaks.
¹⁹Bread is made for laughter,
    and ^(V)wine gladdens life,
    and ^(W)money answers everything.
²⁰Even in your thoughts, ^(X)do not curse the king,
    nor in your ^(Y)bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
    or some winged creature tell the matter.