1 Peter 2:13–25

Submission to Authority

¹³ⁿBe subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,² whether it be to the emperor³ as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him ^oto punish those who do evil and ^pto praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, ^qthat by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16rLive as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^sliving as servants⁴ of God. ^17tHonor everyone. ^uLove the brotherhood. ^vFear God. Honor the emperor.

^18wServants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.^{5 19}For this is a gracious thing, when, ^xmindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^yif when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For ^zto this you have been called, ^ybecause Christ also suffered for you, ^aleaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22bHe committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23cWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^dbut continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24eHe himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^fmight die to sin and ^glive to righteousness. ^hBy his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For ⁱyou were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^jthe Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.