1 Peter 2:18

¹⁶ Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

¹⁷ Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.

¹⁹ For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

²⁰ How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
KJV: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
WEB: Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
ASV: Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
DARBY: Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered.
BLB: Servants, be subject in all fear to [your] masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked.

ÅB: Dere tjenere! vær deres herrer undergitt i all frykt, ikke bare de gode og rimelige, men også de vrange!
OTB: Tjenere, underordne dere deres herrer med all respekt, ikke bare de gode og milde, men også de strenge.
B1930: I tjenere! vær eders herrer undergitt i all frykt, ikke bare de gode og rimelige, men også de vrange!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Titus 2:9–10
Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
Read in context
Colossians 3:22–25
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
Read in context
Ephesians 6:5–7
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Read in context
1 Timothy 6:1–3
All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
Read in context
Proverbs 3:32
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
Read in context
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Read in context
Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
Read in context
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Read in context