1 Peter 3

New King James Version

Submission to Husbands

3 Wives, likewise, be ^(A)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, ^(B)they, without a word, may ^(C)be won by the conduct of their wives, ²^(D)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³^(E)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴rather let it be ^(F)the hidden person of the heart, with the ^[a]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(G)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

⁷^(H)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ^(I)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, ^(J)that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^[b]courteous; ⁹^(K)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary ^(L)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, ^(M)that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For

^(N)“He who would love life
And see good days,
^(O)Let him ^[c]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹Let him ^(P)turn away from evil and do good;
^(Q)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
^(R)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

¹³^(S)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴^(T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ^(U)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵But ^[d]sanctify ^[e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(V)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(W)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶^(X)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ^[f]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰who formerly were disobedient, ^[g]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹^(Y)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism ^(Z)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, ^(AA)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and ^(AB)is at the right hand of God, ^(AC)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Footnotes

1 Peter 3:4 imperishable
1 Peter 3:8 NU humble
1 Peter 3:10 restrain
1 Peter 3:15 set apart
1 Peter 3:15 NU Christ as Lord
1 Peter 3:18 NU, M you
1 Peter 3:20 NU, M when the longsuffering of God waited patiently

Proverbs 31

New King James Version

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

²What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, ^(A)son of my vows?
³^(B)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways ^(C)to that which destroys kings.

⁴^(D)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
⁵^(E)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all ^[a]the afflicted.
⁶^(F)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

⁸^(G)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are ^[b]appointed to die.
⁹Open your mouth, ^(H)judge righteously,
And ^(I)plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

¹⁰^(J)Who^[c] can find a ^[d]virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵^(K)She also rises while it is yet night,
And ^(L)provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
From ^[e]her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰^(M)She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²²She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³^(N)Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.