1 Peter 3:8-16

Complete Jewish Bible

⁸Finally, all of you, be one in mind and feeling; love as brothers; and be compassionate and humble-minded, ⁹not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but, on the contrary, with blessing. For it is to this that you have been called, so that you may receive a blessing. ¹⁰For

“Whoever wants to love life and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
¹¹turn from evil and do good,
seek peace and chase after it.
¹²For Adonai keeps his eyes on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of Adonai is against
those who do evil things.”^[a]

¹³For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, ¹⁵but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;^[b] while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you — yet with humility and fear, ¹⁶keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame.