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Slaves

18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.[a] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[b] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.[c]
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
    who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
    the Guardian of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:18 Or because you fear God; Greek reads in all fear.
  2. 2:21 Some manuscripts read died.
  3. 2:22 Isa 53:9.

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

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