1 Remind them to be ^gsubmissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ^hready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For ⁱwe ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, ^jslaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But ^kwhen the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, ^lnot because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the ^mwashing of ⁿregeneration and ^orenewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he ^ppoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified ^qby his grace we might become ^rheirs according to the ^shope of eternal life.