18 You who are house-servants should respectfully obey your masters—not only the good and gentle ones, but also the crooked ones, 19 because God favours those who endure unjust hardships because of their godly consciences. 20 What good would it do if you were enduring being beaten because of doing evil? But if you endure suffering for doing good, then God would be pleased with your behaviour 21 because that’s what we’re called to because the messiah also suffered for all of you. He left an example for you, so that you all might follow in his steps: 22 [ref]he didn’t do evil or say anything that wasn’t true, 23 [ref]when he was insulted he didn’t retaliate, when he was persecuted he didn’t threaten but put his trust in the one who will judge everyone with true justice. 24 [ref]He sacrificed his own body on the stake for our sins, so that when we die to sin we can live for righteousness. By his wounds, you all were healed. 25 He did all that because you were like lost sheep, but now you all have returned to the shepherd and the overseer of your souls.