Other translations
American Standard Version
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
As free children, and not as persons who make their liberty a cloak for their evil, but as Servants of God.
Darby Bible Translation
as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.
Holy Bible: Douay-Rheims Version (Genuine Leather Black)
As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.
ERV 1885 English Revised Version with Strong's Concordance
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
English Standard Version Journaling Bible
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
God's Word
Live as free people, but don't hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
As God's slaves, live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.
International Standard Version
Live like free people, and do not use your freedom as an excuse for doing evil. Instead, be God's servants.
NET Bible
Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.
New American Standard Bible
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
New International Version
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.
New Living Translation
For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
The World English Bible
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.