9. But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10. who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;
12. having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13. Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14. or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
15. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16. as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.