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1 Peter 3:8-4:19
English Standard Version
1 Peter 3:8-4:19
English Standard Version
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 Finally, all of you, (A)have unity of mind, sympathy, (B)brotherly love, (C)a tender heart, and (D)a humble mind. 9 (E)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, (F)bless, for (G)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
(H)“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 (I)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 (J)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. (K)Have no fear of them, (L)nor be troubled, 15 but (M)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, (N)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 (O)respect, 16 (P)having a good conscience, so that, (Q)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For (R)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also (S)suffered[a] (T)once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, (U)that he might bring us to God, being put to death (V)in the flesh but made alive (W)in the spirit, 19 in which[b] he went and (X)proclaimed[c] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[d] they formerly did not obey, (Y)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, (Z)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, (AA)eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, (AB)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but (AC)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, (AD)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and (AE)is at the right hand of God, (AF)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Stewards of God's Grace
4 Since therefore (AG)Christ suffered in the flesh,[e] (AH)arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for (AI)whoever has suffered in the flesh (AJ)has ceased from sin, 2 (AK)so as to live for (AL)the rest of the time in the flesh (AM)no longer for human passions but (AN)for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past (AO)suffices (AP)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of (AQ)debauchery, and (AR)they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready (AS)to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why (AT)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
7 (AU)The end of all things is at hand; therefore (AV)be self-controlled and sober-minded (AW)for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since (AX)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (AY)Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 (AZ)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, (BA)as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks (BB)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves (BC)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything (BD)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (BE)To him belong glory and (BF)dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at (BG)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice (BH)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad (BI)when his glory is revealed. 14 (BJ)If you are insulted (BK)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[f] and of God rests upon you. 15 But (BL)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or (BM)as a meddler. 16 Yet (BN)if anyone suffers as a (BO)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God (BP)in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment (BQ)to begin at the household of God; and (BR)if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who (BS)do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will (BU)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:18 Some manuscripts died
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or preached
- 1 Peter 3:20 Or when
- 1 Peter 4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you
- 1 Peter 4:14 Some manuscripts insert and of power
- 1 Peter 4:18 Greek where will the ungodly and sinner appear?
1 Peter 3:8-4:19
New International Version
1 Peter 3:8-4:19
New International Version
Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(A) be sympathetic, love one another,(B) be compassionate and humble.(C) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(D) or insult with insult.(E) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(F) because to this(G) you were called(H) so that you may inherit a blessing.(I) 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](J)
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(K) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(L) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](M) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(N) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(O) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(P) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(Q) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(R) to suffer for doing good(S) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(T) for sins,(U) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(V) He was put to death in the body(W) but made alive in the Spirit.(X) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(Y)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(Z) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AA) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AB) were saved(AC) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AD) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AE) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AF) 22 who has gone into heaven(AG) and is at God’s right hand(AH)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AI)
Living for God
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(AJ) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(AK) 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(AL) but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past(AM) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(AN) 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(AO) 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(AP) 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(AQ) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near.(AR) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(AS) so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply,(AT) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(AU) 9 Offer hospitality(AV) to one another without grumbling.(AW) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(AX) as faithful(AY) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.(AZ) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(BA) so that in all things God may be praised(BB) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(BC)
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(BD) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(BE) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(BF) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(BG) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(BH) you are blessed,(BI) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(BJ) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(BK) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(BL) 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[f](BM)
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will(BN) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
- 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
- 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
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.
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.