1 Peter 3

1 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.

In the same way you wives must be submissive to your own husbands; so that if some of them will not believe the message, they may apart from the message be won over by the behavior of their wives,

2 Considering your chaste conversation with fear.

when they see how pure and reverent you are.

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

Your adornment ought not to be the outward adornment of plaited hair and golden jewels and the wearing of beautiful dresses;

4 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.

but rather that hidden personality of the heart, the imperishable ornament of a quiet and gentle spirit, which in the sight of God is indeed precious.

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

For in this way in the olden time the holy women also, who put their trust in God, used to adorn themselves. They were ever in submission to their own husbands;

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

thus, for example, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are daughters of Sarah, if you do what is right, and permit nothing to make you afraid.

7 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.

In the same way you husbands live with your wives, according to knowledge, honoring your wife as of the weaker sex, yet as an heir with yourself of the grace of life; so that your prayers may not be hindered.

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

Finally, you should all be harmonious, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tender-hearted, humble-minded;

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

not paying back evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary giving a blessing. Because for this you have been called - to inherit a blessing.

10 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.

He who would love life and enjoy happy days, Let him keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking guile;

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

Let him turn from evil and do good, Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12 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.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears are open to their cry; But the face of the Lord is set against evil-doers.

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

Yet who will harm you if you become zealous for the good?

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

But even if you should suffer in behalf of righteousness, you are happy. Do not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.

15 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.

But consecrate Christ in your hearts, as Lord. Be always in readiness to make and answer to any one who asks you a reason for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

16 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.

See that you have a clear conscience, so that, although they speak of you as evil-doers, these libelers of your good Christian lives may be ashamed.

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

For it is better that you suffer for doing right, if such be God’s will, than for doing wrong;

18 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,

because Christ also once for all suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but make alive in spirit.

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

(It was in spirit that he went and preached the Word to the spirits who were in prison,

20 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.

who in old times had been disobedient, when God’s longsuffering was waiting in the days of Noah, while an ark was building, in which a few persons - eight in number - were saved by water.)

21 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.

Baptism, the counterpart of that, now saves you (not the washing off of the filth of the flesh, but the prayer for a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 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.

He is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; to Him angels and authorities and powers have been made subject.

A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark