Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

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Called to Blessing

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be [a]courteous; (A)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary (B)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, (C)that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

(D)“He who would love life
And see good days,
(E)Let him [b]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him (F)turn away from evil and do good;
(G)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
(H)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 (I)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 (J)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. (K)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But [c]sanctify [d]the Lord God in your hearts, and always (L)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the (M)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 (N)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile 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 than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring [e]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, [f]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 (O)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (P)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, (Q)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and (R)is at the right hand of God, (S)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:8 NU humble
  2. 1 Peter 3:10 restrain
  3. 1 Peter 3:15 set apart
  4. 1 Peter 3:15 NU Christ as Lord
  5. 1 Peter 3:18 NU, M you
  6. 1 Peter 3:20 NU, M when the longsuffering of God waited patiently