18 (A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and (B)gentle, but also to those who are [a]harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of (C)conscience toward God a person endures [b]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 (D)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 (E)you have been called for this purpose, (F)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (G)an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 He who (H)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [c]and while being (I)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 [d](J)brought our sins in His body up on the [e](K)cross, so that we (L)might die to [f]sin and live for righteousness; (M)by His [g]wounds you were (N)healed. 25 For you were (O)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (P)Shepherd and [h]Guardian of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:18 Or unscrupulous
  2. 1 Peter 2:19 Or pain
  3. 1 Peter 2:23 Lit who
  4. 1 Peter 2:24 Or offered...up
  5. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  6. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit sins
  7. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit wound; or welt
  8. 1 Peter 2:25 Or Bishop, Overseer

The Example of Christ’s Suffering

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. 19 For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,[a] that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:24 Or carried up . . . to the tree