1 Peter 3

1 Wives, be subject to your own husbands in like manner, that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won through the behavior of the wives without the word,

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 having beheld your pure behavior in fear,

when they see how pure and reverent you are.

3 whose adorning—let it not be that which is outward, of braiding of hair, and of putting around of things of gold, or of putting on of garments,

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, by the incorruptible [thing] of the meek and quiet spirit, which is of great value before 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 thus once also the holy women who hoped on God were adorning themselves, being subject 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 Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him “lord,” of whom you became daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.

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 Husbands, in like manner, dwelling with [them], according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel—to the wife—imparting honor, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers are 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 finally, be all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brothers, compassionate, courteous,

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

9 not giving back evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, having known that you were called to this, 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 who is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips—not to speak 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 turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek 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] on the righteous, and His ears—to their supplication, but the face of the LORD [is] against those doing evil”;

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 who will be doing you evil, if you may become imitators of Him who is good?

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

14 But if you also should suffer because of righteousness, [you are] blessed! And do not be afraid of their fear, nor be 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 God in your hearts. And always [be] ready for defense to everyone who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that [is] in you, with meekness and fear,

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 having a good conscience, so that whenever they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed—[those] who are maligning your good behavior 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 if the will of God wills it, [it is] better to suffer doing good, than doing evil;

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

18 also because Christ suffered once for sin—righteous for unrighteous—that He might lead us to God, indeed having been put to death in the flesh, but having been made alive 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 by which, having gone, He also preached to the spirits in prison,

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

20 who sometime [ago] disobeyed when once the long-suffering of God waited, in [the] days of Noah—an ark being prepared—in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through 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 also an antitype to immersion which now saves you—not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God, through 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 at the right hand of God, having gone on to Heaven—messengers, and authorities, and powers, having been subjected 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