The Daily Audio Bible

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind; compassionate, loving as brothers, merciful, friendly,

⁹ not rendering evil for evil, nor rebuke for rebuke. On the contrary, bless. Know that you are called to this so that you could be heirs of blessing.

¹⁰ For “if anyone longs after life (and to see good days), let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

¹¹ “Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹² “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears towards their prayers. And the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

¹³ And who is it that will harm you if you follow that which is good?

¹⁴ But if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And “do not fear their terror, nor be troubled.”

¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer - with humility and respect - to everyone who asks you the Reason for the hope that is in you;

¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that when they falsely accuse you as evildoers, those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

¹⁷ For it is better (if it is the will of God) to suffer for doing good rather than evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also has suffered once for sins - the Just for the unjust - so that He might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

¹⁹ by Whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison.

²⁰ They were disobedient in the past, when once more the patience of God awaited in the days of Noah while the Ark was being prepared (in which few - that is, eight - souls were saved in the water).

²¹ This is now represented by baptism, which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God, made with a good conscience. This also rescues us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

²² Who is at the right hand of God, gone into Heaven, to Whom the angels and powers and might are subject.

4 Therefore, as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

² so that henceforth (as much time as remains in the flesh) he should not live after the lusts of man, but after the will of God.

³ For in the past of our lives, it may have sufficed for us to work after the same desires as the Gentiles: walking in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, in gluttony, carousing, and in abominable idolatries.

⁴ So, it seems strange to them that you do not run with them to the same excess of debauchery, and they speak evil of you.

⁵ They shall give account to Him Who is ready to judge quick and dead.

⁶ For to this purpose was the Gospel also preached to the dead: so that they might be condemned according to man in the flesh but might live according to God in the Spirit.