1 Peter 3:8–18

⁸And finally, being all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brethren, compassionate, courteous, ⁹not giving back evil for evil, or railing for railing, and on the contrary, blessing, having known that to this ye were called, that a blessing ye may inherit; ¹⁰for ‘he who is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips—not to speak guile; ¹¹let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it; ¹²because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears—to their supplication, and the face of the Lord is upon those doing evil;’ ¹³and who is he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators? ¹⁴but if ye also should suffer because of righteousness, happy are ye! and of their fear be not afraid, nor be troubled, ¹⁵and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And be ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

¹⁶Having a good conscience, that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ; ¹⁷for it is better doing good, if the will of God will it, to suffer, than doing evil.

¹⁸Because also Christ once for sin did suffer—righteous for unrighteous—that he might lead us to God, having been put to death indeed, in the flesh, and having been made alive in the spirit,