12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now (A)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 (B)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. (C)Have no fear of them, (D)nor be troubled, 15 but (E)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, (F)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and (G)respect, 16 (H)having a good conscience, so that, (I)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For (J)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also (K)suffered[a] (L)once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, (M)that he might bring us to God, being put to death (N)in the flesh but made alive (O)in the spirit,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:18 Some manuscripts died

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