1 Peter 3
New American Standard Bible
Godly Living
3 (A)In the same way, you wives, (B)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be (C)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure [a]and respectful behavior. 3 (D)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be (E)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way the holy women of former times, (F)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right [b](H)without being frightened by any fear.
7 (I)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with [c](J)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 [d]To sum up, (K)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [e](L)loving, (M)compassionate, and (N)humble; 9 (O)not returning evil for evil or (P)insult for insult, but giving a (Q)blessing instead; for (R)you were called for the very purpose that you would (S)inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“(T)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (U)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 (V)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”
13 (W)And who is [f]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should (X)suffer for the sake of righteousness, (Y)you [g]are blessed. (Z)And do not fear their [h]intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15 but [i]sanctify (AA)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (AB)to make a [j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (AC)hope that is in you, but (AD)with gentleness and (AE)respect; 16 [k]and keep a (AF)good conscience so that in the thing in which (AG)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (AH)it is better, (AI)if [l]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For (AJ)Christ also [m]suffered for sins (AK)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might (AL)bring us to God, having been put to death (AM)in the flesh, but made alive (AN)in the [n]spirit; 19 in [o]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the (AO)patience of God (AP)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of (AQ)the ark, in which a few, that is, (AR)eight (AS)persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 (AT)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(AU)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [p]for a (AV)good conscience—through (AW)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 (AX)who is at the right hand of God, (AY)having gone into heaven, (AZ)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:2 Lit with respect
- 1 Peter 3:6 Lit and are not
- 1 Peter 3:7 Lit a weaker vessel
- 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
- 1 Peter 3:8 I.e., as brothers and sisters
- 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
- 1 Peter 3:14 Lit fear
- 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit having a good
- 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
- 1 Peter 3:18 One early ms died
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or from
1 Peter 3
New Living Translation
Wives
3 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
Husbands
7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
All Christians
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”[b]
Suffering for Doing Good
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.[c] Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
18 Christ suffered[d] for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.[e]
19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.[f] 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from[g] a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.
1 Peter 3
Contemporary English Version
Wives and Husbands
3 (A) If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him, 2 because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life. 3 (B) Don't depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. 4 Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.
5 Long ago those women who worshiped God and put their hope in him made themselves beautiful by putting their husbands first. 6 For example, Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her true children, if you do right and don't let anything frighten you.
7 (C) If you are a husband, you should be thoughtful of your wife. Treat her with honor, because she isn't as strong as you are, and she shares with you in the gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. 9 Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
10 (D) “Do you really love life?
Do you want to be happy?
Then stop saying cruel things
and quit telling lies.
11 Give up your evil ways
and do right,
as you find and follow
the road to peace.
12 The Lord watches over
everyone who obeys him,
and he listens
to their prayers.
But he opposes everyone
who does evil.”
13 Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds? 14 (E)(F) Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do. 15 Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.
Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. 16 Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ. 17 You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong.
18 Christ died once for our sins.
An innocent person died
for those who are guilty.
Christ did this
to bring you to God,
when his body
was put to death
and his spirit
was made alive.
19 Christ then preached to the spirits that were being kept in prison. 20 (G)(H) They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood.
21 Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death. 22 Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side[a] of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.
Footnotes
- 3.22 right side: The place of honor and power.
1 Peter 3
International Standard Version
Wives and Husbands
3 In a similar way, you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands so that, even if some of them refuse to obey the word, they may be won over without a word through your conduct as wives 2 when they see your pure and reverent lives.
3 Your beauty should not be an external one, consisting of braided hair or the wearing of gold ornaments and dresses. 4 Instead, it should be the inner disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which God values greatly.[a] 5 After all, this is how holy women who set their hope on God used to make themselves beautiful in the past. They submitted themselves to their husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters by doing good and by not letting anything terrify you.
7 In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner.[b] Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers.
When You are Wronged
8 Finally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, keep blessing them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
10 “For the person who wants to love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the Lord[c] watches the righteous,[d]
and he pays attention to their prayers.[e]
But the Lord[f] opposes those[g] who do wrong.”[h]
13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. “Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. 15 Instead, exalt[i] the Messiah”[j] as Lord in your lives.[k] Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. 16 But do this[l] gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah[m] will be ashamed of slandering you. 17 After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
18 For the Messiah[n] also suffered[o] for sins once for all,
an innocent person for the guilty,
so that he could bring you[p] to God.
He was put to death in a mortal body
but was brought to life by the Spirit,
19 in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits 20 who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear[q] conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah,[r] 22 who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:4 Lit. which is of great value before God
- 1 Peter 3:7 Lit. with the weaker vessel
- 1 Peter 3:12 MT source citation reads Lord
- 1 Peter 3:12 Lit. the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
- 1 Peter 3:12 Lit. and his ears are attentive to their prayer
- 1 Peter 3:12 MT source citation reads Lord
- 1 Peter 3:12 Lit. the face of the Lord is against
- 1 Peter 3:12 Cf. Ps 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or Christ; cf. Isa 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:15 Lit. hearts
- 1 Peter 3:16 The Gk. lacks do this
- 1 Peter 3:16 Or Christ
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or Christ
- 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss. read died
- 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss. read us
- 1 Peter 3:21 Lit. clean
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or Christ
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