1 Peter 3:15
Verse 15 of 22. The 3rd of 5 chapters in 1 Peter, in The General Letters.
11Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?
14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,
16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.
18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.