8 Finally, everyone should be agreeable and sympathetic to others, kind and caring towards those around you, humble 9 and not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but rather be a blessing to others. You were called to do that so that you all can receive a blessing. 10 [ref]because it’s written:

‘The person wanting to enjoy life and see good days,

let their tongue cease from evil,

and their lips to not speak deceit.

11 Let them turn away from evil and do good,

let them look for peace and chase after it,

12 because the master’s eyes are on the righteous,

and his ears listen to their petition,

but the master turns his face away from those who do evil.’

13 Then who would mistreat you if you all become active at doing good, 14 [ref]but even if some of you do suffer because of your godliness, you will be blessed. Don’t be scared or disturbed because of your fear of them, 15 but revere the messiah as the master of your hearts. Always be ready to explain the hope that you all have if anyone asks, 16 but do it with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that if you’re accused falsely of doing evil, then it’ll be the ones who mistreat you all because of your good conduct in the message who will be disgraced. 17 Because it is better to do good and then, if God wills it, to suffer, than to do evil. 18 Because the messiah also died once for sin, i.e., the sinless one died for sinful people, so that he can bring you all past death onward to God. Although he experienced physical death, he had been given life in the spirit 19 and with that life he also went to the spirits in prison and preached to them—20 [ref]those who had refused to believe. God had waited patiently in the time of Noah when the barge was being built yet only a few were saved. Eight of them were brought safely through the waters 21 which also represents how being immersed saved you all. It doesn’t remove the filth from your bodies, but cleans the conscience as you pledge to God through the resurrection of Yeshua the messiah, 22 who went to heaven and sat on God’s right, with God’s messengers and authorities and powers all under his authority.