1 Peter 2:11-3:7

New American Standard Bible

^11 (A)Beloved, ^(B)I urge you as ^(C)foreigners and strangers to abstain from ^(D)fleshly lusts, which wage ^(E)war against the soul. ^12 (F)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(G)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[a]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(H)glorify God ^(I)on the day of ^[b]visitation.

Honor Authority

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

^18 (U)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(V)gentle, but also to those who are ^[h]harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(W)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 ^(X)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 ^(Y)you have been called for this purpose, ^(Z)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(AA)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who ^(AB)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [j]and while being ^(AC)abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself ^[k](AD)brought our sins in His body up on the ^[l](AE)cross, so that we ^(AF)might die to ^[m]sin and live for righteousness; ^(AG)by His ^[n]wounds you were ^(AH)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(AI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(AJ)Shepherd and ^[o]Guardian of your souls.

Godly Living

3 ^(AK)In the same way, you wives, ^(AL)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(AM)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, ² as they observe your pure ^[p]and respectful behavior. ^3 (AN)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; ⁴ but it should be ^(AO)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this way the holy women of former times, ^(AP)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(AQ)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^[q](AR)without being frightened by any fear.

^7 (AS)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^[r](AT)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.