1 Peter 3:12-18

English Standard Version

¹²For 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.”

¹³Now ^(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, ¹⁵but ^(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. ¹⁷For ^(J)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸For 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,