1 Peter — Chapter 3

1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

1In like manner, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your won husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;

2beholding your chaste behavior [coupled] with fear.

3Whose [adorning] let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;

4but [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible [apparel] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

7Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

8Finally, [be] ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:

9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

11And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.

13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

14But even if ye should suffer for righteousness` sake, blessed [are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

15but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

16having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

17For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

19in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,

20that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

21which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

22who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

1In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,

2when they see your pure and reverent conduct.

3Let your beauty not be external—the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes—

4but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

5For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,

6like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.

7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.

9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

11And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.

13For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

14But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.

15But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

16Yet 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.

17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

18Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

19In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

21And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;

2seeing your pure behavior in fear.

3Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing;

4but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

5For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

8Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender hearted, courteous,

9not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

10For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

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 is he 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; and 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; that, 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 well 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 which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.