< 1 Peter 3 >

1 In this way, you who are wives should submit to your own husbands. Do this so even if some men are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word, through their wives' behavior.
Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may, without the word, be won by the conduct of their wives,
2 For they will have seen your sincere behavior with respect.
by observing your blameless and reverential conduct.
3 Let it be done not with outward ornaments such as braided hair, jewels of gold, or fashionable clothing.
Let not your adorning be that which is outward, which consists in plaiting the hair, and wearing gold, and putting on apparel:
4 Instead, let it be done with the inner person of the heart, and the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious before God.
but let it be the hidden man of the heart, adorned with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great price.
5 For this is how holy women long ago who hoped in God adorned themselves, by submitting to their husbands.
For, in former times, the holy women also, who trusted in God, thus adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands,
6 In this way Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are now her children if you do what is good and if you are not afraid of trouble.
as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: and you are her children, if you do good, and fear no dismay.
7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives according to understanding, as with a weaker container, a woman. You should give them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Do this so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, bestowing honor on the wife as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you, be likeminded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, and humble.
Finally, be all of the same mind, be sympathizing, lovers of the brethren, kind-hearted, humble-minded;
9 Do not pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. On the contrary, continue to bless, because for this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.
not repaying evil for evil, nor reviling for reviling, but, on the other hand, blessing, since you know that for this end you were called, that you might inherit blessing.
10 “The one who wants to love life and see good days should stop his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile:
11 Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
let him turn from evil and do good: let him seek peace, and pursue it.
12 The eyes of the Lord see the righteous, and his ears hear their requests. But the face of the Lord is against those who do 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 against those who do evil.
13 Who is the one who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?
14 But if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be troubled.
But yet, if you even suffer for righteousness, happy are you. Yet fear not their terror, nor be troubled:
15 Instead, set apart the Lord Christ in your hearts as holy. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you why you have confidence in God. Do this with meekness and respect.
but reverence the Lord God in your hearts, and be always ready to answer every one that asks of you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 Have a good conscience so that the people who insult your good life in Christ may be ashamed because they are speaking against you as if you were evildoers.
having a good conscience, that, inasmuch as they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who traduce your good con duct in Christ.
17 It is better, if God desires, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For it is better, if such be the will of God, that you suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.
18 Christ also suffered once for sins. He who is righteous suffered for us, who were unrighteous, so that he would bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but he was made alive by the Spirit.
For Christ also once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in flesh, but made alive in spirit;
19 By the Spirit, he went and preached to the spirits who are now in prison.
in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 They were disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, in the days of the building of an ark, and God saved a few people—eight souls—by means of the water.
who formerly were disobedient, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while an ark was preparing, in which few, that is, eight souls, were brought in safety through the water;
21 This is a symbol of the baptism that saves you now—not as a washing away of dirt from the body, but as the appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
the likeness of which, even immersion, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the seeking of a good conscience toward God, ) does now also save us, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 Christ is at the right hand of God. He went into heaven. Angels, authorities, and powers must submit to him.
who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having become subject to him.

< 1 Peter 3 >

A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark
A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark