1 Peter 3-4
New American Standard Bible
Godly Living
3 (A)In the same way, you wives, (B)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be (C)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure [a]and respectful behavior. 3 (D)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be (E)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way the holy women of former times, (F)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right [b](H)without being frightened by any fear.
7 (I)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with [c](J)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 [d]To sum up, (K)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [e](L)loving, (M)compassionate, and (N)humble; 9 (O)not returning evil for evil or (P)insult for insult, but giving a (Q)blessing instead; for (R)you were called for the very purpose that you would (S)inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“(T)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (U)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 (V)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”
13 (W)And who is [f]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should (X)suffer for the sake of righteousness, (Y)you [g]are blessed. (Z)And do not fear their [h]intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15 but [i]sanctify (AA)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (AB)to make a [j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (AC)hope that is in you, but (AD)with gentleness and (AE)respect; 16 [k]and keep a (AF)good conscience so that in the thing in which (AG)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (AH)it is better, (AI)if [l]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For (AJ)Christ also [m]suffered for sins (AK)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might (AL)bring us to God, having been put to death (AM)in the flesh, but made alive (AN)in the [n]spirit; 19 in [o]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the (AO)patience of God (AP)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of (AQ)the ark, in which a few, that is, (AR)eight (AS)persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 (AT)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(AU)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [p]for a (AV)good conscience—through (AW)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 (AX)who is at the right hand of God, (AY)having gone into heaven, (AZ)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Keep Fervent in Your Love
4 Therefore, since (BA)Christ has [q]suffered in the flesh, (BB)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (BC)the one who has [r]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 (BD)so as to live (BE)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the (BF)will of God. 3 For (BG)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [s](BH)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of (BI)[t]debauchery, and they (BJ)slander you; 5 but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge (BK)the living and the dead. 6 For (BL)the gospel has for this purpose been [u]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7 (BM)The end of all things [v]is near; therefore, (BN)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [w]prayer. 8 Above all, (BO)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (BP)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (BQ)Be hospitable to one another without (BR)complaint. 10 (BS)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (BT)stewards of the [x]multifaceted grace of God. 11 (BU)Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking (BV)actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [y](BW)by the strength which God supplies; so that (BX)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (BY)to whom belongs the glory and [z]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Share the Sufferings of Christ
12 (BZ)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (CA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (CB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the (CC)revelation of His glory (CD)you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. 14 If you are insulted [aa](CE)for the name of Christ, (CF)you are blessed, (CG)because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. 15 Make sure that (CH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [ab](CI)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (CJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (CK)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (CL)to begin [ac]with (CM)the household of God; and if it (CN)begins [ad]with us first, what will be the outcome for those (CO)who do not obey the (CP)gospel of God? 18 (CQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [ae]what will become of the (CR)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (CS)the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:2 Lit with respect
- 1 Peter 3:6 Lit and are not
- 1 Peter 3:7 Lit a weaker vessel
- 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
- 1 Peter 3:8 I.e., as brothers and sisters
- 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
- 1 Peter 3:14 Lit fear
- 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit having a good
- 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
- 1 Peter 3:18 One early ms died
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or from
- 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
- 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
- 1 Peter 4:3 Lit having gone in
- 1 Peter 4:4 Or reckless abandon
- 1 Peter 4:6 I.e., preached in their lifetimes
- 1 Peter 4:7 Lit has come near
- 1 Peter 4:7 Lit prayers
- 1 Peter 4:10 Or manifold
- 1 Peter 4:11 Lit from
- 1 Peter 4:11 Or power
- 1 Peter 4:14 Lit in
- 1 Peter 4:15 Lit one who oversees others’ affairs
- 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
- 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
- 1 Peter 4:18 Lit where will appear
1 Peter 3-4
New King James Version
Submission to Husbands
3 Wives, likewise, be (A)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, (B)they, without a word, may (C)be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 (D)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 (E)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be (F)the hidden person of the heart, with the [a]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
A Word to Husbands
7 (H)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, (I)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, (J)that your prayers may not be hindered.
Called to Blessing
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be [b]courteous; 9 (K)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary (L)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, (M)that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
(N)“He who would love life
And see good days,
(O)Let him [c]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him (P)turn away from evil and do good;
(Q)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
(R)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Suffering for Right and Wrong
13 (S)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 (T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. (U)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But [d]sanctify [e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always (V)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the (W)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 (X)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Christ’s Suffering and Ours
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring [f]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, [g]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 (Y)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (Z)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, (AA)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and (AB)is at the right hand of God, (AC)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Christ’s Example to Be Followed
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [h]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, (AD)but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [i]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready (AE)to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason (AF)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but (AG)live according to God in the spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory
7 But (AH)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for (AI)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 (AJ)Be hospitable to one another (AK)without grumbling. 10 (AL)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, (AM)as good stewards of (AN)the manifold grace of God. 11 (AO)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [j]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that (AP)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [k]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice (AQ)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that (AR)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [l]reproached for the name of Christ, (AS)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [m]On their part He is blasphemed, (AT)but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [n]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [o]matter.
17 For the time has come (AU)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, (AV)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
(AW)“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God (AX)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:4 imperishable
- 1 Peter 3:8 NU humble
- 1 Peter 3:10 restrain
- 1 Peter 3:15 set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 NU Christ as Lord
- 1 Peter 3:18 NU, M you
- 1 Peter 3:20 NU, M when the longsuffering of God waited patiently
- 1 Peter 4:1 NU omits for us
- 1 Peter 4:3 NU time
- 1 Peter 4:11 utterances
- 1 Peter 4:11 sovereignty
- 1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
- 1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.
- 1 Peter 4:15 meddler
- 1 Peter 4:16 NU name
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
