11 Dear friends, I’m urging you all as travellers and foreigners to keep away from worldly temptations which are in a battle against your soul. 12 Even as you all live among atheists, maintain your good conduct so that when they slander you by calling you ‘evil’, at the time of God’s judgement they’ll have to honour God when they see your good behaviour.

13 Submit yourselves to every human authority because you all follow the master, whether it’s the king who rules, 14 or the governors that he sends to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 It’s God’s will that you all silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by doing good. 16 Live as if you’re all free, but don’t use that freedom to cover up evil—use it as God’s slaves. 17 Honour others and be loving towards your fellow believers. Revere God as well as honouring the king.