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- To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
- not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
- For, "THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
- "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
- "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."
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- Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
- Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
- For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
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- Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
- But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
- but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
- and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
- For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
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- Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
- But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
- But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
- keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
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- For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
- in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
- who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
- Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
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- For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
- through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison
- who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
- and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
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