1 Peter 3:13-20

New American Standard Bible 1995

^13 (A)Who is ^[a]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(B)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(C)you ^[b]are blessed. ^(D)And do not fear their ^[c]intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^[d]sanctify ^(E)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(F)to make a ^[e]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(G)hope that is in you, yet ^(H)with gentleness and ^[f](I)reverence; ^16 [g]and keep a ^(J)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(K)you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(L)it is better, ^(M)if ^[h]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(N)Christ also died for sins ^(O)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(P)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(Q)in the flesh, but made alive ^(R)in the ^[i]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[j]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient, when the ^(S)patience of God ^(T)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(U)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(V)eight ^(W)persons, were brought safely through the ^[k]water.