1 Peter 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Wives and Husbands
3 Wives, in the same way, be subject to your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,(A) 2 when they see the purity and respect of your conduct. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;(B) 4 rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.(C) 5 It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by being subject to their husbands. 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.(D)
7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman—though the weaker vessel,[a] they are joint heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.(E)
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.(F) 9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.(G) 10 For
“Those who desire to love life
and to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right,[b] you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,[c] and do not be intimidated,(H) 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you,(I) 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned,[d] those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.(J) 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered[e] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you[f] to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,(K) 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water.(L) 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for[g] a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(M) 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.(N)
1 Peter 3
Jubilee Bible 2000
3 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that also those who do not obey the Word, may be won without a word by the conversation of their wives,
2 considering your chaste conversation which is in fear.
3 Let their adorning not be outward with ostentatious hairdos and wearing of gold nor in composition of apparel,
4 but let the interior adorning of the heart be without corruption, and of an agreeable spirit and peaceful, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who waited upon God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands,
6 as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom ye are made daughters, doing well and not being afraid of any terror.
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them wisely, giving honour unto the woman, as unto a more fragile vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers not be hindered.
8 ¶ And finally, be ye all of one consent, of one affection, loving each other fraternally, merciful, courteous,
9 not rendering evil for evil or curse for curse, but to the contrary, blessing, knowing that ye are called, that ye should possess a blessing by inheritance.
10 For he that desires to love life and see the good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile;
11 let him separate himself from evil and do good; let him seek peace and follow it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.
13 And who is he that can harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?
14 But also if ye suffer anything for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye; therefore, be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled,
15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to respond to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and reverence,
16 ¶ having a good conscience, so in that which they murmur against you as of evildoers, those that blaspheme your good conversation in the Christ may be confused.
17 For it is better (if the will of God so desires) that ye suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 ¶ For the Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in spirit,
19 in which he also went and preached unto the imprisoned spirits,
20 which in the time past were disobedient, when once the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being made ready, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 ¶ Unto the figure of which the baptism that does now correspond saves us (not taking away the uncleanness of the flesh, but giving testimony of a good conscience before God) by the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ,
22 who is at the right hand of God, having ascended into heaven, unto whom the angels and the authorities and powers are subject.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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