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1 Peter 2:11-17
Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Peter 2:11-17
Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Call to Good Works
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents(A) to abstain(B) from fleshly(C) desires that war against you.[a](D) 12 Conduct(E) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,[b] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.[c](F)
13 Submit(G) to every human authority[d] because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor[e] as the supreme authority(H) 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will(I) that you silence the ignorance(J) of foolish people by doing good. 16 As God’s slaves,(K) live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.(L) 17 Honor everyone. Love(M) the brotherhood.(N) Fear God.(O) Honor the Emperor.[f]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Peter 2:11 Or against the soul
- 1 Peter 2:12 Or among the nations, or among the pagans
- 1 Peter 2:12 The day when God intervenes in human history, either in grace or in judgment
- 1 Peter 2:13 Or creature
- 1 Peter 2:13 Lit king
- 1 Peter 2:17 Lit king
1 Peter 2:11-17
New International Version
1 Peter 2:11-17
New International Version
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends,(A) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(B) to abstain from sinful desires,(C) which wage war against your soul.(D) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(E) and glorify God(F) on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(G) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(H) and to commend those who do right.(I) 15 For it is God’s will(J) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(K) 16 Live as free people,(L) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(M) live as God’s slaves.(N) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(O) fear God, honor the emperor.(P)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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