1 Peter 2:11-3:17

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, ¹⁴or to governors as sent ^[c]by him ^(K)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(L)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵For ^[d]^(M)such is the will of God, that by doing right you ^(N)silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶Act 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. ¹⁹For this finds favor, if for the sake of ^(W)conscience toward God a person endures ^[i]grief when suffering unjustly. ²⁰For 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

²¹For ^(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, ²²He 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; ²⁴and 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. ²⁵For 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, ²as 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; ⁴but 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. ⁵For 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, ⁶just 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.

⁸^[s]To sum up, ^(AU)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^[t]^(AV)loving, ^(AW)compassionate, and ^(AX)humble; ⁹^(AY)not returning evil for evil or ^(AZ)insult for insult, but giving a ^(BA)blessing instead; for ^(BB)you were called for the very purpose that you would ^(BC)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For,

“^(BD)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹^(BE)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
¹²^(BF)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

¹³^(BG)And who is ^[u]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should ^(BH)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(BI)you ^[v]are blessed. ^(BJ)And do not fear their ^[w]intimidation, and do not be in dread, ¹⁵but ^[x]sanctify ^(BK)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(BL)to make a ^[y]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(BM)hope that is in you, but ^(BN)with gentleness and ^(BO)respect; ¹⁶^[z]and keep a ^(BP)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(BQ)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷For ^(BR)it is better, ^(BS)if ^[aa]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.