^2 (A)for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and ^(B)dignified in every way.

¹⁰ that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven ^(A)and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

⁹ But you are ^(A)a chosen race, ^(B)a royal ^(C)priesthood, ^(D)a holy nation, ^(E)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(F)out of darkness into ^(G)his marvelous light. ^10 (H)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 ^(I)as sojourners and exiles ^(J)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, ^(K)which wage war against your soul. ^12 (L)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(M)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(N)the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

^13 (O)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme,

⁷ But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and ^(A)pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person ^(A)be subject to the governing authorities. For ^(B)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you ^(C)will receive his approval, ⁴ for ^(D)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, ^(E)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also ^(F)for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ^7 (G)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

¹¹ and to aspire ^(A)to live quietly, and ^(B)to mind your own affairs, and ^(C)to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

¹¹ O Lord, ^(A)let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Now I was ^(B)cupbearer to the king.

^14 (A)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the ^(B)holiness ^(C)without which no one will see the Lord.