Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing.
New American Standard Bible
Act as
King James Version
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Holman Bible
As God’s slaves,
International Standard Version
Live like free people, and do not use your freedom as an excuse for doing evil. Instead, be God's servants.
A Conservative Version
As free, and not having your freedom as a cover-up of evil, but as bondmen of God.
American Standard Version
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Amplified
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.
Anderson New Testament
as being free, and yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God.
Bible in Basic English
As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;
Common New Testament
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil; live as servants of God.
Daniel Mace New Testament
men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants
Darby Translation
as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.
Emphatic Diaglott Bible
Live as freemen, yet do not use your freedom as a covering of wickedness; but as the servants of God.
Godbey New Testament
as free, and not as having the freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God.
Goodspeed New Testament
Live like free men, only do not make your freedom an excuse for doing wrong, but be slaves of God.
John Wesley New Testament
yet not having your liberty for a cloak of wickedness, but as the servants of God.
Julia Smith Translation
As free, and as not having liberty for a covering of wickedness, but as the servants of God.
King James 2000
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Lexham Expanded Bible
[Live] as free [persons], and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.
Modern King James verseion
as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
as free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness: but even as the servants of God.
Moffatt New Testament
Live like free men, only do not make your freedom a pretext for misconduct; live like servants of God.
Montgomery New Testament
Live like free men; and yet do not make your freedom a cloak for misconduct, but be the slaves of God.
NET Bible
Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.
New Heart English Bible
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Noyes New Testament
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as servants of God.
Sawyer New Testament
as free, and not using freedom for a cloak of vice, but as servants of God.
The Emphasized Bible
As free, yet, not as a cloak of vice, holding your freedom, but, as God's servants.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for wicked practices; but as being servants of God.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Act as free men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God.
Webster
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Weymouth New Testament
Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse for base conduct, but be God's bondservants.
Williams New Testament
Live like free men, only do not make your freedom a pretext for doing evil, but live like slaves of God.
World English Bible
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Worrell New Testament
as free, and not holding your freedom as a cloak for wickedness, but as servants of God.
Worsley New Testament
as free, and yet not using your liberty as a cloke for wickedness, but as the servants of God.
Youngs Literal Translation
as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;
Themes
Freedom/liberty » What not to use liberty for
Government » Duty of citizens to
Liberty » The abuse of, warnings against
Christian Liberty » Saints should » Not abuse
Topics
Interlinear
me
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 38 Translations in 1 Peter 2:16
Verse Info
Context Readings
A Call To Good Works
15 For it is God's will that, by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorant [talk and actions] of foolish people. 16 As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing. 17 Show [proper] respect for everyone. Love your [Christian] brothers [and sisters]. Have an awe-inspiring respect for God. Show honor to the king.
Cross References
Romans 6:22
But now, since you have been freed from [the practice of] sin and have become slaves to God, the benefits you receive are a holy life [here] and never ending life in the future.
1 Corinthians 7:22
For the person who was a slave when called by the Lord is [now] the Lord's freed person. In the same way, the person who was free when he was called [by the Lord] is [now] Christ's slave.
James 1:25
But the person who looks closely into the perfect law that brings freedom, and continues to do so, is not a listener who forgets [what he hears], but someone who does the work [it requires]. This person will be blessed for doing so.
Matthew 23:13
"But it is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! [It is] because you withhold the kingdom of heaven from people, for you do not enter it yourselves, nor [do you] allow those who are trying to enter it to get in. {[{[Verse
John 8:32-36
And you will know what the truth is and the truth will set you free [i.e. from bondage to sin]."
John 15:22
They would not be guilty of sinning if I had not come and spoken to them. But now [that I have], they have no excuse for their sin.
Romans 6:18
And when you were freed from [the practice of] sin, you became slaves to doing what is right.
Galatians 5:1
Christ set us free [from condemnation under the law of Moses], so we could stay free! Remain where you are then, and do not get tangled up again in the enslaving harness [of the law of Moses].
Galatians 5:13
For you brothers were called [by God] to enjoy your freedom; but do not use this freedom as an excuse for living a sinful life; instead, use it to render loving service to each other.
Ephesians 6:6
Do not serve them only when you are being watched, just to gain their approval, but as slaves of Christ, doing what God wants from your heart.
Colossians 3:24
knowing that you will receive from the Lord a [spiritual] inheritance as a reward, [for] you are [really] serving the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:5
For we were never found using flattering words at any time, as you know, nor did we try to cover up any greedy desires. God can testify [to this].
James 2:12
So, you should speak and act as people who will be judged by a law that brings freedom.
2 Peter 2:19
[Although] these people promise "liberty," they themselves are slaves to corrupting influences, for people are slaves to whatever controls them.
Jude 1:4
For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.