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Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.
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Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. a13
For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, b whether of the emperor as supreme,
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or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
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For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.
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As servants c of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.
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Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. d Fear God. Honor the emperor.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Revised Standard)