1 Peter 3:1–4:19
3 In the same way, wives,bb submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word,bc they may be won overbd without a word by the way their wives livebe 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.bf 3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes,bg 4 but rather what is inside the heartW,bh—the imperishable quality of a gentlebi and quietbj spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For in the past, the holybk women who put their hopebl in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Saraha obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.b
7 Husbands,c in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner,d showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another,e and be compassionatef and humble,A 9 not paying back evil for evilg or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,h since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For thei one who wants to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evilj
and his lips from speaking deceit,k
11 and let him turn awayl from evil
and do what is good.
Let him seek peacem and pursue it,
12 because 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 what is evil.B
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness,n you are blessed. Do not fear themC,o or be intimidated,D,p 15 but in your hearts regardE ChristF the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.q 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience,r so that when you are accused,G those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffers for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also sufferedt for sins once for all,u the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.v He was put to death in the fleshH,w but made alive by the Spirit,I 19 in whichJ he also went and made proclamation to the spiritsx in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noahy while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight peopleK,z—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,aa but the pledgeL of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,ab 22 who has gone into heavenac and is at the right hand of Godad with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.ae
4 Therefore, since Christ sufferedM in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understandingN—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finishedaf with sinO—2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.ag 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,ah drunkenness, orgies,ai carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slanderP you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.aj 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,Q,ak so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,al they might liveam in the spirit according to God’s standards.
7 The end of all things is near;an therefore, be alert and sober-mindedao for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant loveap for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.R,aq 9 Be hospitablear to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,as as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,at so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.a 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,b so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.c 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,d you are blessed, because the Spirite of glory and of GodA rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.B 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.C 17 For the time has come for judgmentf to begin with God’s household,g and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?D,h
19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselvesi to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.