002:009 But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 002:010 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not found mercy, but now you have. 002:011 Dear friends, I entreat you as pilgrims and foreigners not to indulge the cravings of your lower natures: for all such cravings wage war upon the soul. 002:012 Live honourable lives among the Gentiles, in order that, although they now speak against you as evil-doers, they may yet witness your good conduct, and may glorify God on the day of reward and retribution. 002:013 Submit, for the Lord's sake, to every authority set up by man, whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler, 002:014 or to provincial Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and the encouragement of those who do what is right. 002:015 For it is God's will that by doing what is right you should thus silence the ignorant talk of foolish persons. 002:016 Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse for base conduct, but be God's bondservants. 002:017 Honour every one. Love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the Emperor. 002:018 Household servants, be submissive to your masters, and show them the utmost respect--not only if they are kind and thoughtful, but also if they are unreasonable. 002:019 For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of duty to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly. 002:020 If you do wrong and receive a blow for it, what credit is there in your bearing it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you bear it patiently, this is an acceptable thing with God. 002:021 And it is to this you were called; because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you an example so that you should follow in His steps. 002:022 He never sinned, and no deceitful language was ever heard from His mouth. 002:023 When He was reviled, He did not answer with reviling; when He suffered He uttered no threats, but left His wrongs in the hands of the righteous Judge. 002:024 The burden of our sins He Himself carried in His own body to the Cross and bore it there, so that we, having died so far as our sins are concerned, may live righteous lives. By His wounds yours have been healed. 002:025 For you were straying like lost sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your souls.