1 Peter 2:11-3:9

Legacy Standard Bible

^11 (A)Beloved, ^(B)I urge you as ^(C)sojourners and exiles to abstain from ^(D)fleshly lusts which wage ^(E)war against the soul, ^12 (F)by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they ^(G)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[a]because of your good works, as they observe them, ^(H)glorify God ^(I)in the day of ^[b]visitation.

Be Subject to Authority

^13 (J)Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[c]by him ^(K)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(L)praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For ^[d](M)such is the will of God that by doing good you may ^(N)silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶ Act as ^(O)free people, and ^[e]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(P)slaves of God. ^17 (Q)Honor all people, ^(R)love the ^[f]brethren, ^(S)fear God, ^(T)honor the ^[g]king.

^18 (U)Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and ^(V)considerate, but also to those who are ^[h]crooked. ¹⁹ For this finds ^[i]favor, if for the sake of ^(W)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if ^(X)when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.

Christ, Our Example

²¹ For to this ^(Y)you have been called, ^(Z)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(AA)an example that you should follow in His steps, ²² who ^(AB)did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ²³ who being ^(AC)reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. ²⁴ Who Himself ^[j](AD)bore our sins in His body on the ^(AE)tree, so that ^(AF)having died to ^[k]sin, we might live to righteousness; ^(AG)by His ^[l]wounds you were ^(AH)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(AI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(AJ)Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

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 without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² as they observe your pure conduct with fear. ^3 (AN)Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; ⁴ but let it be ^(AO)the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this way in former times the holy women also, ^(AP)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(AQ)calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, ^[m](AR)not fearing any intimidation.

^7 (AS)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker ^(AT)vessel, 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 [n]Now to sum up, ^(AU)all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, ^(AV)brotherly, ^(AW)tender-hearted, and ^(AX)humble in spirit; ^9 (AY)not returning evil for evil or ^(AZ)reviling for reviling, but ^[o]giving a ^(BA)blessing instead, for ^(BB)you were called for the very purpose that you might ^(BC)inherit a blessing.