1 Peter 3:12–4:19
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
rAnd His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 sAnd who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 tBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. u“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But 4sanctify 5the Lord God in your hearts, and always vbe ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the whope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 xhaving a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring 6us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, 7when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 yThere is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism z(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, abut the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and bis at the right hand of God, cangels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered 1for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, abut for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past 2lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready bto judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason cthe gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but dlive according to God in the spirit.
7 But ethe end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for f“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 gBe hospitable to one another hwithout grumbling. 10 iAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, jas good stewards of kthe manifold grace of God. 11 lIf anyone speaks, let him speak as the 3oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that min all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the 4dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice nto the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that owhen His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are 5reproached for the name of Christ, pblessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 6On their part He is blasphemed, qbut on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a 7busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this 8matter.
17 For the time has come rfor judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, swhat will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
t“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ucommit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.