13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:y whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrongz and to commend those who do right.a 15 For it is God’s willb that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.c 16 Live as free people,d but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;e live as God’s slaves.f 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,g fear God, honor the emperor.h

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,i not only to those who are good and considerate,j but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.k 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.l 21 To thism you were called,n because Christ suffered for you,o leaving you an example,p that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,q

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”e r

23 When they hurled their insults at him,s he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.t Instead, he entrusted himselfu to him who judges justly.v 24 “He himself bore our sins”w in his body on the cross,x so that we might die to sinsy and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”z 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”f a but now you have returned to the Shepherdb and Overseer of your souls.c