Wives and Husbands

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) when they observe your pure, reverent lives.(E) Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments[b] or fine clothes.(F) 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. 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, 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)

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

Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers,[e](P) and be compassionate(Q) and humble,[f] 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

夫妻之道

1-2 照样,做妻子的要顺服丈夫。这样,即使丈夫不信从真道,也会因为看见妻子贞洁和敬虔的品行而被无声地感化。 你们不要注重外表的妆饰,像编头发、戴金饰或穿华丽的衣服, 要以温柔、娴静这些永不褪色的内在美为妆饰,这是上帝所看重的。 从前那些仰赖上帝的圣洁妇女,都是以这些来妆饰自己,并顺服自己的丈夫, 正如撒拉顺服亚伯拉罕,称他为主人。所以,如果你们做对的事,不怕恐吓,就是撒拉的女儿。

你们做丈夫的也一样,要按情理[a]与妻子共同生活,因为她们比你们软弱。要敬重她们,因为她们和你们一同承受上帝施恩赐下的生命。这样,你们的祷告就可以畅通无阻了。

要为义受苦

总而言之,你们要同心合意,互相关怀,彼此相爱,仁慈谦虚。 不要以恶报恶,以辱骂还辱骂,反要祝福对方,这是你们蒙召的目的,好叫你们得到祝福。 10 因为圣经上说:

“若有人热爱生命,
渴望幸福,
就要舌头不出恶言,
嘴唇不说诡诈的话。
11 要弃恶行善,竭力追求和睦。
12 因为主的眼睛看顾义人,
祂的耳朵垂听他们的祈求。
但主必严惩作恶之人。”

13 如果你们热心行善,有谁会害你们呢? 14 就算你们为义受苦,也是有福的。不要害怕别人的恐吓[b],也不要惊慌, 15 要心里尊基督为主。如果有人问起你们心中的盼望,你们要随时准备答复, 16 但态度要温和恭敬,存无愧的良心。这样,那些对你们因信基督而有的好品行妄加诬蔑的人会自觉羞愧。 17 如果上帝的旨意是要你们因行善而受苦,这也总比你们因作恶而受苦强。

18 因为基督也曾一次为罪受苦,以无罪之身代替不义之人,为要领你们到上帝面前。祂的肉体虽被处死,但祂借着圣灵复活了。 19 祂还借着圣灵向那些监狱中的灵魂传道, 20 他们就是从前在挪亚造方舟、上帝耐心等候人们悔改的时代中那些不肯信的人。当时进入方舟,从洪水中得救的人很少,只有八个人。 21 这水代表的洗礼现在借着耶稣基督的复活也拯救了你们。这洗礼要表明的不是除掉肉体的污秽,而是求在上帝面前有无愧的良心。 22 基督已经升到天上,坐在上帝的右边,众天使、掌权的、有能力的都服从了祂。

Footnotes

  1. 3:7 按情理”希腊文是“按知识”。
  2. 3:14 不要害怕别人的恐吓”或译“不要怕别人所怕的”。

妻子与丈夫

照样,你们作妻子的,要顺服自己的丈夫,好使不信道的丈夫受到感动,不是因着你们的言语,而是因着你们的生活, 因为他们看见了你们敬畏和纯洁的生活。 不要单注重外表的装饰,就如鬈头发、戴金饰、穿华丽衣服; 却要在里面存着温柔安静的心灵,作不能毁坏的装饰,这在 神面前是极宝贵的。 因为古时仰望 神的圣洁妇女,正是这样装饰自己,顺服丈夫, 像撒拉听从亚伯拉罕,称他为主一样;你们若行善,不怕任何恐吓,就是撒拉的女儿了。

照样,你们作丈夫的,也要合情合理的与妻子同住。要体谅她比你软弱,要尊敬她,因为她是和你一同承受生命的恩典的。这样,就使你们的祷告不受拦阻。

为义受苦的有福了

总括来说,你们要彼此同心,互相体恤,亲爱像弟兄,满有温柔,存心谦卑。 不要以恶报恶,以辱骂还辱骂,倒要祝福,因为你们就是为此蒙召,好叫你们承受福气。 10 因为

“凡希望享受人生,

要看见好日子的,

就要禁止舌头不出恶言,

嘴唇不说诡诈的话;

11 也要离恶行善,

寻找并追求和睦。

12 因为主的眼睛看顾义人,

他的耳朵垂听他们的呼求;

但主的脸敌对作恶的人。”

13 如果你们热心行善,有谁能害你们呢? 14 就算你们要为义受苦,也是有福的。“不要怕人的恐吓,也不要畏惧。” 15 只要心里尊基督为圣,以他为主;常常作好准备,去回答那些问你们为甚么怀有盼望的人, 16 但要用温柔敬畏的心回答。当存无愧的良心,使那些诬赖你们这在基督里有好品行的人,在毁谤你们的事上蒙羞。 17 如果 神的旨意是要你们受苦,那么为行善受苦,总比为行恶受苦好。 18 因为基督也曾一次为你们的罪死了,就是义的代替不义的,为要领你们到 神面前。就肉体的方面说,他曾死去;就灵的方面说,他复活了; 19 他藉这灵也曾去向那些在监管中的灵宣讲, 20 他们就是挪亚建造方舟的日子、 神容忍等待的时候,那些不顺从的人。当时进入方舟、借着水得救的人不多,只有八个。 21 这水预表的洗礼,现在也拯救你们:不是除去肉体的污秽,而是借着耶稣基督的复活,向 神许愿常存纯洁的良心。 22 基督已进到天上,在 神右边,众天使、有权势的、有能力的,都服从了他。