1 Peter 3:1–20

WIVES AND HUSBANDS

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 heartG,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.

DO NO EVIL

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

UNDESERVED SUFFERING

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.