Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 1 Peter 3
Close HCSB

1 Peter 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Wives and Husbands

3 In the same way, wives,(A) submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message,(B) they may be won over[a](C) without a message by the way their wives live(D) 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.(E) 3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments[b] or fine clothes.(F) 4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside[c] the heart(G) with the imperishable quality of a gentle(H) and quiet(I) spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. 5 For in the past, the holy(J) women who put their hope(K) in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah(L) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.(M)

7 Husbands,(N) in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature[d](O) yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Do No Evil

8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers,[e](P) and be compassionate(Q) and humble,[f] 9 not paying back evil for evil(R) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,(S) since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

10 For the(T) one who wants to love life
and to see good days
must keep his tongue from evil(U)
and his lips from speaking deceit,(V)
11 and he must turn away(W) from evil
and do what is good.
He must seek peace(X) and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and His ears are open to their request.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil.[g]

Undeserved Suffering

13 And who will harm[h] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?[i] 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness,(Y) you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear(Z) or be disturbed,(AA)[j] 15 but honor[k] the Messiah[l] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason[m] for the hope that is in you.(AB) 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,[n][o](AC) so that when you are accused,[p] those who denounce your Christian life[q] will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer(AD) for doing good, if that should be God’s will,[r] than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered(AE) for sins once for all,[s](AF)
the righteous for the unrighteous,[t]
that He might bring you[u] to God,(AG)
after being put to death in the fleshly realm[v](AH)
but made alive in the spiritual realm.[w]

19 In that state[x] He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits(AI) in prison[y] 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah(AJ) while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people[z](AK)—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,(AL) but the pledge[aa] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.(AM) 22 Now that He has gone into heaven,(AN) He is at God’s right hand(AO) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:1 Lit may be gained
  2. 1 Peter 3:3 Lit and of putting around of gold items
  3. 1 Peter 3:4 Lit Instead, the hidden man of
  4. 1 Peter 3:7 Lit understanding as the weaker vessel
  5. 1 Peter 3:8 Lit sympathetic, loving the brothers
  6. 1 Peter 3:8 Other mss read courteous
  7. 1 Peter 3:12 Ps 34:12-16
  8. 1 Peter 3:13 Or mistreat, or do evil to
  9. 1 Peter 3:13 Or you are partisans for the good; lit you are zealots
  10. 1 Peter 3:14 Is 8:12
  11. 1 Peter 3:15 Or sanctify; lit set apart
  12. 1 Peter 3:15 Other mss read set God
  13. 1 Peter 3:15 Or who demands of you an accounting
  14. 1 Peter 3:16 Lit good
  15. 1 Peter 3:16 Or keeping a clear conscience
  16. 1 Peter 3:16 Other mss read when they speak against you as evildoers
  17. 1 Peter 3:16 Lit your good behavior in Christ
  18. 1 Peter 3:17 Lit if the will of God should will
  19. 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss read died for sins on our behalf; other mss read died for our sins; other mss read died for sins on your behalf
  20. 1 Peter 3:18 Or the Righteous One in the place of the unrighteous many
  21. 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss read us
  22. 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the flesh
  23. 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit
  24. 1 Peter 3:19 Or In whom, or At that time, or In which
  25. 1 Peter 3:19 Perhaps fallen supernatural beings or angels; 2Pt 2:4; Jd 6
  26. 1 Peter 3:20 Lit souls
  27. 1 Peter 3:21 Or the appeal
Close NLT

1 Peter 3
New Living Translation

Wives

3 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.

3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

Husbands

7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

All Christians

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.”[b]

Suffering for Doing Good

13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.[c] Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

18 Christ suffered[d] for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.[e]

19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.[f] 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from[g] a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

Footnotes

  1. 3:8 Greek Show brotherly love.
  2. 3:10-12 Ps 34:12-16.
  3. 3:16 Some English translations put this sentence in verse 15.
  4. 3:18a Some manuscripts read died.
  5. 3:18b Or in spirit.
  6. 3:20 Greek saved through water.
  7. 3:21 Or as an appeal to God for.
Listen to 1 Peter 3
Close ESV

1 Peter 3
English Standard Version

Wives and Husbands

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

7 Likewise, (I)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker (J)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

8 Finally, all of you, (K)have unity of mind, sympathy, (L)brotherly love, (M)a tender heart, and (N)a humble mind. 9 (O)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, (P)bless, for (Q)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

(R)“Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him 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.”

13 Now (S)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 (T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. (U)Have no fear of them, (V)nor be troubled, 15 but (W)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, (X)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and (Y)respect, 16 (Z)having a good conscience, so that, (AA)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For (AB)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also (AC)suffered[b] (AD)once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, (AE)that he might bring us to God, being put to death (AF)in the flesh but made alive (AG)in the spirit, 19 in which[c] he went and (AH)proclaimed[d] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[e] they formerly did not obey, (AI)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, (AJ)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, (AK)eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, (AL)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but (AM)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, (AN)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and (AO)is at the right hand of God, (AP)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:7 Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs
  2. 1 Peter 3:18 Some manuscripts died
  3. 1 Peter 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or preached
  5. 1 Peter 3:20 Or when
Listen to 1 Peter 3
Close NIV

1 Peter 3
New International Version

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands,(J) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(K) be sympathetic, love one another,(L) be compassionate and humble.(M) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(N) or insult with insult.(O) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(P) because to this(Q) you were called(R) so that you may inherit a blessing.(S) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a](T)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(U) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(V) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](W) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(X) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(Y) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(Z) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(AA) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(AB) to suffer for doing good(AC) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(AD) for sins,(AE) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(AF) He was put to death in the body(AG) but made alive in the Spirit.(AH) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(AI)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(AJ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AK) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AL) were saved(AM) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AN) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AO) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AP) 22 who has gone into heaven(AQ) and is at God’s right hand(AR)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  3. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
Next
1 Peter 2
1 Peter 4
Next
dropdown
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

ESV Study Bible
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV