Godly Living

3 ^(A)Remind them ^(B)to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(C)ready for every good deed,

Honor Authority

^13 (A)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[a]by him ^(B)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(C)praise of those who do right. ¹⁵ For ^[b](D)such is the will of God that by doing right you may ^(E)silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶ Act as ^(F)free men, and ^[c]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(G)bondslaves of God. ^17 (H)Honor all people, ^(I)love the brotherhood, ^(J)fear God, ^(K)honor the ^[d]king.

^18 (L)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(M)gentle, but also to those who are ^[e]unreasonable. ¹⁹ For this finds ^[f]favor, if for the sake of ^(N)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(O)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds ^[g]favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

²¹ For ^(P)you have been called for this purpose, ^(Q)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(R)an example for you to follow in His steps, ²² who ^(S)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ^23 [h]and while being ^(T)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself ^[i](U)bore our sins in His body on the ^[j](V)cross, so that we ^(W)might die to ^[k]sin and live to righteousness; for ^(X)by His ^[l]wounds you were ^(Y)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(Z)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(AA)Shepherd and ^[m]Guardian of your souls.