Godly Living

(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, as they observe your pure [a]and respectful behavior. (D)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 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. 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, 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.

(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.

[d]To sum up, (K)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [e](L)loving, (M)compassionate, and (N)humble; (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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:2 Lit with respect
  2. 1 Peter 3:6 Lit and are not
  3. 1 Peter 3:7 Lit a weaker vessel
  4. 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
  5. 1 Peter 3:8 I.e., as brothers and sisters
  6. 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
  7. 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
  8. 1 Peter 3:14 Lit fear
  9. 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
  10. 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
  11. 1 Peter 3:16 Lit having a good
  12. 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
  13. 1 Peter 3:18 One early ms died
  14. 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
  15. 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
  16. 1 Peter 3:21 Or from

Be Subject To Your Husbands, Adorning Yourself With Things Precious To God

Likewise wives, being subject to your own husbands, in order that even if any are disobeying the word, they may be gained without a word by the conduct of their wives, having observed your pure conduct with fear[a] of whom let what is observed [b] be not the outside adornment consisting of a braiding of hair and a wearing of gold things or putting-on of garments, but the hidden person of the heart in[c] the imperishable adorning consisting of the gentle and quiet spirit, which is very-precious in the sight of God. For in this manner formerly also the holy wives putting-hope in God were adorning themselves, being subject to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord[d]of whom[e] you became children while[f] doing-good and not fearing any terror[g].

Honor Your Wives As Fellow Heirs of The Gift of Life

Husbands likewise, living-with them[h] according-to[i] knowledge[j], showing honor to the feminine[k] one as to[l] the weaker vessel[m], as indeed to your fellow-heirs of the grace[n] of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Everyone Be Loving, Humbleminded, And Doing Good

And finally, everyone— being likeminded[o], sympathetic, brother-loving, tender-hearted[p], humbleminded, not giving-back evil for evil or reviling[q] for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing them. Because you were called to this, in order that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For “the one desiring[r] to love life and see good days— let him stop his tongue from evil and his lips that they not speak deceit; 11 and let him turn-away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against ones doing evil things” [Ps 34:12-16].

You Are Blessed If You Suffer For Righteousness

13 And who is the one who will do you evil[s] if you become zealots[t] for good? 14 But even though you might be suffering[u] for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed[v] ones!

Make Christ Lord In Your Heart As You Suffer For Doing Good

But do not fear their fear[w], nor be disturbed, 15 but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, being ready always for a defense to everyone asking you a reason for the hope in you, 16 but with gentleness and fear[x], having a good conscience in order that in what you are spoken-against[y], the ones maligning your good conduct in Christ may be put-to-shame. 17 For it is better to be suffering while doing-good, if the will of God should [so] will it, than while doing-evil.

Because Christ Himself Suffered To Bring Us To God, And Is Now Glorified By God

18 Because Christ also suffered once-for-all for sins— a righteous One for unrighteous ones— in order that He might bring you to God, having been put-to-death in the flesh but made-alive[z] by the Spirit[aa],

19 ... by Whom[ab] also[ac] having gone, He proclaimed[ad] to the spirits[ae] in prison— 20 ones having disobeyed formerly when the patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared,

... in which a few (that is, eight souls) were brought-safely through the water,

21 ... which[af] also as to you a corresponding-thing[ag] now saves— baptism (not a putting-off [ah] of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal[ai] to God for[aj] a good conscience) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 ... Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to Him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:2 Or, with respect for them. Or, with reverence for God.
  2. 1 Peter 3:3 what is observed. Or, their adornment. Lit, it.
  3. 1 Peter 3:4 That is, dressed in.
  4. 1 Peter 3:6 Or, sir. See Gen 18:12.
  5. 1 Peter 3:6 That is, Sarah.
  6. 1 Peter 3:6 That is, by, as long as you are, since you are, as ones.
  7. 1 Peter 3:6 Or, intimidation, fright.
  8. 1 Peter 3:7 living with them... fellow-heirs. Or, living with the feminine one according-to knowledge, as with the weaker vessel, showing honor as indeed to fellow heirs.
  9. 1 Peter 3:7 Or, in harmony with, based on.
  10. 1 Peter 3:7 That is, Christian knowledge of her status before God. Or, understanding; that is, in an understanding way, with consideration.
  11. 1 Peter 3:7 Or, womanly one, female.
  12. 1 Peter 3:7 That is, as appropriate to.
  13. 1 Peter 3:7 This describes her as God’s creation, rather than the husband’s partner.
  14. 1 Peter 3:7 That is, the grace-gift of spiritual life, which they possess equally.
  15. 1 Peter 3:8 Or, harmonious.
  16. 1 Peter 3:8 Or, good-hearted.
  17. 1 Peter 3:9 Or, insult, abuse.
  18. 1 Peter 3:10 Or, wanting, intending.
  19. 1 Peter 3:13 Or, harm you, mistreat you.
  20. 1 Peter 3:13 Or, zealous.
  21. 1 Peter 3:14 even though you might be suffering... you are blessed. Or, if you even should suffer... you would be blessed.
  22. 1 Peter 3:14 Or, fortunate, from God’s point of view.
  23. 1 Peter 3:14 That is, their intimidation; or, what they fear.
  24. 1 Peter 3:16 That is respect; or, fear of God.
  25. 1 Peter 3:16 Or, slandered.
  26. 1 Peter 3:18 Or, given life.
  27. 1 Peter 3:18 Or, in the Spirit; or, in spirit, in His spirit; or, in the realm of the spirit.
  28. 1 Peter 3:19 That is, the Spirit. Or, in which. That is, in His spirit; or, in the state of being dead in the flesh but alive in spirit.
  29. 1 Peter 3:19 Or even; that is, by Whom having gone, He even proclaimed.
  30. 1 Peter 3:19 Or, made a proclamation.
  31. 1 Peter 3:19 That is, people; or, angels.
  32. 1 Peter 3:21 That is, which event (Noah being brought safely through the water); or, which water.
  33. 1 Peter 3:21 Or, a fulfillment; or, a reflection, echo, copy.
  34. 1 Peter 3:21 Or, removal.
  35. 1 Peter 3:21 Or, request. Or, pledge, answer; that is, the pledge to keep a good conscience toward God, or, the pledge to God from a good conscience.
  36. 1 Peter 3:21 Or, from.