1 Peter 2:13-3:7

Lexham English Bible

Submission to Established Authority

¹³ Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king^[a] as having supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For the will of God is as follows: by^[b] doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free persons, and not using your^[c] freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people, love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king.^[d]

¹⁸ Domestic slaves, be subject to your^[e] masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while^[f] suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you^[g] sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you^[h] do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps, ²² who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,^{[i] 23} who when he^[j] was reviled, did not revile in return; when^[k] suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, ²⁴ who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they^[l] see your respectful, pure conduct. ³ Let your^[m] adornment not be the external kind, braiding hair and putting on gold jewelry or putting on fine clothing, ⁴ but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is highly valuable in the sight of God. ⁵ For in the same way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves by^[n] being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you have become when you^[o] do good and are not frightened with respect to any terror.

⁷ Husbands, in the same way live with your wives knowledgeably^[p], as with the weaker female vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.