1 Peter 2:11-25

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles  to abstain  from sinful  desires that wage war against the soul.  Conduct  yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,  so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.  Submit  to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor  as the supreme authority  or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will  that you silence the ignorance  of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,  but as God’s slaves.  Honor everyone. Love  the brothers and sisters.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor. Household slaves, submit to your masters  with all reverence  not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.  For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,  if you endure it, this brings favor with God. For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered  for you, leaving you an example,  that you should follow  in his steps. He did not commit sin,  and no deceit   was found in his mouth;   , when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges  justly. He himself bore our sins  in his body  on the tree;  so that, having died to sins,  we might live for righteousness.  By his wounds   , you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray,   , but you have now returned to the Shepherd  and Overseer  of your souls.