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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 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