1 Peter 3
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
3 In like manner also let wives be subject to their husbands: that if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word, by the conversation of the wives.
2 Considering your chaste conversation with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:
4 But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.
5 For after this manner heretofore the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
6 As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any disturbance.
7 Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.
8 And in fine, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
11 Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue it:
12 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.
13 And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good?
14 But if also you suffer any thing for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled.
15 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.
16 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer, than doing ill.
18 Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,
19 In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison:
20 Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.
21 Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.
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 Peter 3:1 Lit may be gained
- 1 Peter 3:3 Lit and of putting around of gold items
- 1 Peter 3:4 Lit Instead, the hidden man of
- 1 Peter 3:7 Lit understanding as the weaker vessel
- 1 Peter 3:8 Lit sympathetic, loving the brothers
- 1 Peter 3:8 Other mss read courteous
- 1 Peter 3:12 Ps 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 3:13 Or mistreat, or do evil to
- 1 Peter 3:13 Or you are partisans for the good; lit you are zealots
- 1 Peter 3:14 Is 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or sanctify; lit set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Other mss read set God
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or who demands of you an accounting
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit good
- 1 Peter 3:16 Or keeping a clear conscience
- 1 Peter 3:16 Other mss read when they speak against you as evildoers
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit your good behavior in Christ
- 1 Peter 3:17 Lit if the will of God should will
- 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
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or the Righteous One in the place of the unrighteous many
- 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss read us
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the flesh
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or In whom, or At that time, or In which
- 1 Peter 3:19 Perhaps fallen supernatural beings or angels; 2Pt 2:4; Jd 6
- 1 Peter 3:20 Lit souls
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or the appeal
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