1 Peter 2:12-16
New American Standard Bible
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.
King James Version
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Christian Standard Bible
13Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority
14or 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.
15For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
New Living Translation
English Standard Version
13Be subject for the Lord 's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
New International Version
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
New King James Version
13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—
16as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.