1 Peter 3:8–18

Suffering for Doing Good

⁸Finally, all of you, be like-minded,ⁿ be sympathetic, love one another,^o be compassionate and humble.^{p 9}Do not repay evil with evil^q or insult with insult.^r On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^s because to this^t you were called^u so that you may inherit a blessing.^{v 10}For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

¹¹They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^aw

¹³Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{x 14}But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^y “Do not fear their threats^b; do not be frightened.”^{cz 15}But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^a to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^b that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience,^c so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{d 17}For it is better, if it is God’s will,^e to suffer for doing good^f than for doing evil. ¹⁸For Christ also suffered once^g for sins,^h the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.ⁱ He was put to death in the body^j but made alive in the Spirit.^k