1 Peter 3:8–18

Suffering for Doing Right

⁸To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another as brothers and sisters, and be kind and humble with one another. ⁹Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. ^10*As the scripture says:

“Whoever wants to enjoy life

and wishes to see good times,

must keep from speaking evil

and stop telling lies.

^11*They must turn away from evil and do good;

they must strive for peace with all their heart.

^12*For the Lord watches over the righteous

and listens to their prayers;

but he opposes those who do evil.”

¹³Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ^14*But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry. ^15*But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honour him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, ¹⁶but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will be ashamed of what they say. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God’s will, than for doing evil. ¹⁸For Christ died^c for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,