1 Peter 2:18-3:12

English Standard Version

¹⁸^(A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(B)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(C)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For ^(D)to this you have been called, ^(E)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(F)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²²^(G)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³^(H)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(I)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴^(J)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(K)might die to sin and ^(L)live to righteousness. ^(M)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For ^(N)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(O)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, ^(P)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(Q)even if some do not obey the word, ^(R)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ²when they see your ^(S)respectful and pure conduct. ³^(T)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴but let your adorning be ^(U)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(V)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(W)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷Likewise, ^(X)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(Y)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸Finally, all of you, ^(Z)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(AA)brotherly love, ^(AB)a tender heart, and ^(AC)a humble mind. ⁹^(AD)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(AE)bless, for ^(AF)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰For

^(AG)“Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
¹¹let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”