1 Peter 3–4

Wives and Husbands

3Likewise, wives, ^kbe subject to your own husbands, so that ^leven if some do not obey the word, ^mthey may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ²when they see your ⁿrespectful and pure conduct. ^3oDo not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴but let your adorning be ^pthe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. ⁵For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^qcalling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^rdo not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷Likewise, ^shusbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^tvessel, since they are heirs with you¹ of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

⁸Finally, all of you, ^uhave unity of mind, sympathy, ^vbrotherly love, ^wa tender heart, and ^xa humble mind. ^9yDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^zbless, for ^ato this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰For

^b“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit;

¹¹let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹²For 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.”

¹³Now ^cwho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14dBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. ^eHave no fear of them, ^fnor be troubled, ¹⁵but ^gin your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^halways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ⁱrespect, ^16jhaving a good conscience, so that, ^kwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For ^lit is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸For Christ also ^msuffered^{2 n}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^othat he might bring us to God, being put to death ^pin the flesh but made alive ^qin the spirit, ¹⁹in which³ he went and ^qproclaimed⁴ to the spirits in prison, ²⁰because⁵ they formerly did not obey, ^rwhen God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, ^swhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^teight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^unow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^vas an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^wthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and ^xis at the right hand of God, ^ywith angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God’s Grace

4Since therefore ^zChrist suffered in the flesh,^{1 a}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^bwhoever has suffered in the flesh ^chas ceased from sin, ^2dso as to live for ^ethe rest of the time in the flesh ^fno longer for human passions but ^gfor the will of God. ³For the time that is past ^hsuffices ⁱfor doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^jdebauchery, and ^kthey malign you; ⁵but they will give account to him who is ready ^lto judge the living and the dead. ⁶For this is why ^mthe gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

⁷ⁿThe end of all things is at hand; therefore ^obe self-controlled and sober-minded ^pfor the sake of your prayers. ⁸Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since ^qlove covers a multitude of sins. ^9rShow hospitality to one another without grumbling. ^10sAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, ^tas good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks ^uoracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ^vby the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything ^wGod may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^xTo him belong glory and ^ydominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at ^zthe fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice ^ainsofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^bwhen his glory is revealed. ^14cIf you are insulted ^dfor the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory² and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵But ^elet none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^fas a meddler. ¹⁶Yet ^eif anyone suffers as a ^gChristian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^din that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment ^hto begin at the household of God; and ⁱif it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who ^jdo not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And

^k“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”³

¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will ^lentrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.