14 But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, ye are blessed; and do not be afraid of their fear, and do not be troubled.

15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; Be always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give an account of your hope, with meekness and reverence.

16 Have a good conscience, that by the things wherefore you are reviled as evildoers, those who reproach your good life in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For if it pleases the will of God, it is better to suffer for good works than for evil;

18 For Christ also, to bring us to God, once suffered for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, being put to death according to the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

19 to whom he also went down and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 To those who were once disobedient to the long-suffering of God that awaited them, in the days of Noah, in the time of the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved from the water.

21 In the same way we are now saved by baptism like unto this image, not washing away from the uncleanness of the flesh, but by the promise of a good conscience to God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 Who, having ascended into heaven, dwelleth at the right hand of God, and to whom the angels, and powers, and powers, have submitted.

4

1 Therefore, as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same thought; for he who suffers in the flesh ceases to sin;

2 that the rest of the time in the flesh may no longer live according to the lusts of men, but according to the will of God.

3 For it is sufficient that in the past time of life ye have walked according to the will of the heathen, giving yourselves up to uncleanness, lusts (sodomy, bestiality, thoughts), drunkenness, excess in food and drink, and foolish idolatry;

4 Wherefore they are amazed that ye do not partake of the same debauchery with them, and curse you.

5 They will give an answer to Him who is soon to judge the living and the dead.

6 For for this reason also the gospel was preached to the dead, that they, having been judged according to man in the flesh, should live according to God in the spirit.

7 However, the end of everything is near. Therefore, be prudent and watch in your prayers.

8 Above all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.