Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 Dear brothers, you are people who do not belong to this world. You are like visitors who are on a journey. I beg you, do not do the things your body wants to do. Those things fight against your soul.
12 Live good lives among the people who do not believe. They may talk about you as if you do wrong things. But when they see the good things you do, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
13 Obey every officer of the government to please the Lord. Obey the king because he is over all.
14 Obey the rulers because they are sent by him. They are sent to punish those who do wrong things and to praise those who do good things.
15 That is what God wants you to do. He wants you to do good things. By doing good things, you will stop foolish people from saying wrong things about you. They say wrong things about you because they do not know you.
16 You are free people. But do not think, `I am free so I can do wrong things.' You are God's servants.
17 Respect all men. Love your Christian brothers. Fear God. Respect the king.
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