²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](C) which he bought^(D) with his own blood.^[b](E)

²³ You were bought at a price;^(A) do not become slaves of human beings.

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(C) of Christ, a lamb^(D) without blemish or defect.^{(E) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(F) but was revealed in these last times^(G) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(H) who raised him from the dead^(I) and glorified him,^(J) and so your faith and hope^(K) are in God.

²² Now that you have purified^(L) yourselves by obeying^(M) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,^(N) from the heart.^{[a] 23} For you have been born again,^(O) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,^(P) through the living and enduring word of God.^{(Q) 24} For,

And this is the word that was preached to you.

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(A)