This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.

Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.

Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.

and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.

Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.