1 Peter 3
Easy-to-Read Version
Wives and Husbands
3 In the same way, you wives should be willing to serve your husbands. Then, even those who have refused to accept God’s teaching will be persuaded to believe because of the way you live. You will not need to say anything. 2 Your husbands will see the pure lives that you live with respect for God. 3 It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. 4 No, your beauty should come from inside you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God.
5 It was the same with the holy women who lived long ago and followed God. They made themselves beautiful in that same way. They were willing to serve their husbands. 6 I am talking about women like Sarah. She obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.
7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. You should show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace of true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers from being heard.
Suffering for Doing Right
8 So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. 9 Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing. 10 The Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy true life
and have only good days,
then avoid saying anything hurtful,
and never let a lie come out of your mouth.
11 Stop doing what is wrong, and do good.
Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.
12 The Lord watches over those who do what is right,
and he listens to their prayers.
But he is against those who do evil.” (A)
13 If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you. 14 But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God’s blessing. “Don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried.”[a] 15 But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. 16 But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said.
17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants.
18 Christ himself suffered when he died for you,
and with that one death he paid for your sins.
He was not guilty,
but he died for people who are guilty.
He did this to bring all of you to God.
In his physical form he was killed,
but he was made alive by the Spirit.[b]
19 And by the Spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison. 20 Those were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for people while Noah was building the big boat. And only a few—eight in all—were saved in the boat through the floodwater. 21 And that water is like baptism, which now saves you. Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body. It is asking God for a clean conscience. It saves you because Jesus Christ was raised from death. 22 Now he has gone into heaven. He is at God’s right side and rules over angels, authorities, and powers.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:14
Quote from Isa. 8:12. - 1 Peter 3:18 by the Spirit Or “in the spirit.” Also in verse 19.
彼得前书 3
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
妻子和丈夫
3 同样，你们作妻子的，要顺服自己的丈夫，这样，即使有不信从道理的丈夫，也会因妻子的品行，并非言语，而感化过来， 2 因为看见了你们敬虔纯洁的品行。 3 你们不要藉外表来妆饰自己，如编头发，戴金饰，穿美丽的衣裳等， 4 而要有蕴藏在人内心不衰退的美，以温柔娴静的心妆饰自己；这在 神面前是极宝贵的。 5 因为古时仰赖 神的圣洁妇人正是以此为妆饰，顺服自己的丈夫。 6 就如撒拉听从亚伯拉罕，称他为主。你们只要行善，不怕任何恐吓，就成为撒拉的女儿了。
7 同样，你们作丈夫的，要按情理[a]跟妻子共同生活，体贴女性是比较软弱的器皿；要尊重她，因为她也与你一同承受生命之恩。这样，你们的祷告就不会受阻碍。
为义受苦
8 总而言之，你们都要同心，彼此体恤，相爱如弟兄，存怜悯和谦卑的心。 9 不要以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福，因为你们正是为此蒙召的，好使你们承受福气。 10 因为经上说：
“凡要爱惜生命、
享受好日子的人，
要禁止舌头不出恶言，
嘴唇不说诡诈的话。
11 也要弃恶行善，
寻求和睦，一心追求。
12 因为主的眼看顾义人，
他的耳听他们的祈祷；
但主向行恶的人变脸。”
13 你们若热心行善，有谁会害你们呢？ 14 即使你们为义受苦，也是有福的。不要怕人的威吓，也不要惊慌； 15 只要心里奉主基督为圣，尊他为主。有人问你们心中盼望的理由，要随时准备答覆； 16 不过，要以温柔、敬畏的心回答。要存无亏的良心，使你们在何事上被毁谤，就在何事上使那些凌辱你们在基督里有好品行的人自觉羞愧。 17 神的旨意若是要你们因行善受苦，这总比因行恶受苦好。
19 他藉这灵也曾去向那些在监狱里的灵传道， 20 就是那些从前在挪亚预备方舟、 神容忍等待的时候不信从的人。当时进入方舟，藉着水得救的不多，只有八个人。 21 这水所预表的洗礼，现在藉着耶稣基督的复活拯救你们，不是除掉肉体的污秽，而是向 神恳求有无亏的良心。 22 耶稣已经到天上去，在 神的右边，众天使、有权柄的、有权能的都服从了他。
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.