1 Peter 3

1 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives

In like manner also let wives be subject to their husbands: that if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word, by the conversation of the wives.

2 when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

Considering your chaste conversation with fear.

3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,

Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:

4 but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.

5 For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

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

6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any disturbance.

7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

And in fine, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble:

9 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.

Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

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

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

Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue it:

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.

13 Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good?

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

But if also you suffer any thing for justice’ sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled.

15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.

16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

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

For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer, than doing ill.

18 For Christ also suffered 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 in the Spirit,

Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,

19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison:

20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.

A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark