¹⁵ But ^[a]sanctify ^[b]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(A)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(B)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

⁶ Let your speech always be ^(A)with grace, ^(B)seasoned with salt, ^(C)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

^25 (A)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(B)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(C)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(D)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

^14 (A)Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will ^[a]answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom ^(B)which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or ^[b]resist.

^2 (A)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

⁷ Now therefore, stand still, that I may ^(A)reason with you before the Lord concerning all the ^(B)righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers:

^27 (A)To them God willed to make known what are ^(B)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[a]which is ^(C)Christ in you, ^(D)the hope of glory.

¹⁸ that by two ^[a]immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to ^(A)lie, we ^[b]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope ^(B)set before us.

¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ^(C)and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, ^(A)leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to ^[a]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from ^(B)dead works and of faith toward God,