1 Peter 3
Lexham English Bible
Wives and Husbands
3 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they[a] see your respectful, pure conduct. 3 Let your[b] adornment not be the external kind, braiding hair and putting on gold jewelry or putting on fine clothing, 4 but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is highly valuable in the sight of God. 5 For in the same way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves by[c] being subject to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you have become when you[d] do good and are not frightened with respect to any terror.
7 Husbands, in the same way live with your wives knowledgeably[e], as with the weaker female vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Called to Inherit a Blessing
8 And finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble, 9 not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing. 10 For
“The one who wants to love life
and see good days
must keep his[f] tongue from evil
and his lips must not speak deceit.
11 And he must turn away from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For 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.[g]
Suffer for Doing What is Good
13 And who is the one who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good? 14 But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,[h] 15 but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you. 16 But do so with courtesy and respect, having a good conscience, so that in the things in which you are slandered, the ones who malign your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it[i], than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the just for the unjust,
in order that he could bring you to God,
being put to death in the flesh,
but made alive in the spirit,
19 in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,
20 who were formerly disobedient, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while[j] an ark was being constructed, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were rescued through water. 21 And[k] also, corresponding to this, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:2 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“see”) which is understood as temporal
- 1 Peter 3:3 Literally “of whom,” referring to the wives
- 1 Peter 3:5 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being subject”) which is understood as means
- 1 Peter 3:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“do good”) which is understood as temporal
- 1 Peter 3:7 Literally “according to knowledge”
- 1 Peter 3:10 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- 1 Peter 3:12 Verses 10–12 are a quotation from Ps 34:12–16
- 1 Peter 3:14 The second half of this verse contains a quotation from Isa 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:17 Literally “if the will of God wills”
- 1 Peter 3:20 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was being constructed”)
- 1 Peter 3:21 Literally “which”
1 Peter 3
Legacy Standard Bible
Wives and Husbands
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 without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear. 3 (D)Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; 4 but let it be (E)the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, (F)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, [a](H)not fearing any intimidation.
7 (I)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker (J)vessel, 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 [b]Now to sum up, (K)all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, (L)brotherly, (M)tender-hearted, and (N)humble in spirit; 9 (O)not returning evil for evil or (P)reviling for reviling, but [c]giving a (Q)blessing instead, for (R)you were called for the very purpose that you might (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 [d]Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the [e]Lord is against those who do evil.”
Suffering for Righteousness
13 (W)And who is [f]there to [g]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 [h]are blessed. (Z)And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled, 15 but [i]sanctify (AA)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (AB)to make [j]a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (AC)hope that is in you, yet (AD)with gentleness and (AE)fear, 16 having a (AF)good conscience so that in the thing in which (AG)you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (AH)it is better, (AI)if [k]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong. 18 For (AJ)Christ also suffered for sins (AK)once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might (AL)bring you to God, having been put to death (AM)in the flesh, but made alive (AN)in the [l]spirit; 19 in [m]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now 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 [n]water. 21 (AT)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(AU)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal [o]of a (AV)good conscience to God—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.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:6 Lit and are not
- 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
- 1 Peter 3:9 Lit blessing instead
- 1 Peter 3:12 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:15
- 1 Peter 3:12 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:15
- 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
- 1 Peter 3:13 Or do evil against you, cf. 3:9, 10, 11, 12
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
- 1 Peter 3:15 Set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or an argument, an explanation
- 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
- 1 Peter 3:20 The great flood
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or for
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