1 Peter 2:16 - Compare All Versions
1 Peter 2:13-17 MSG (The Message)
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
1 Peter 2:16 KJV (King James Version)
as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 NASB1995 (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
1 Peter 2:16 NCV (New Century Version)
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 ASV (American Standard Version)
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 NIV (New International Version)
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:16 NKJV (New King James Version)
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 AMP (Amplified Bible)
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 NLT (New Living Translation)
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
1 Peter 2:16 TPT (The Passion Translation)
As God’s loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.
1 Peter 2:16 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.