1 Peter 3:1–16

Wives and Husbands

^1aIn the same way, you wives, ^bbe subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^cwon without a word by the conduct of their wives,

²as they observe your pure conduct with fear.

^3aYour adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments;

⁴but let it be ^athe hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

⁵For in this way in former times the holy women also, ^awho hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,

⁶just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^acalling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, ^1bnot fearing any intimidation.

^7aYou husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker ^bvessel, 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.

⁸¹Now to sum up, ^aall of you be like-minded, sympathetic, ^bbrotherly, ^ctender-hearted, and ^dhumble in spirit;

^9anot returning evil for evil or ^breviling for reviling, but ¹giving a ^cblessing instead, for ^dyou were called for the very purpose that you might ^einherit a blessing.

¹⁰For,

“^aThe one who desires life, to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

¹¹“^aHe must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

¹²“^aFor the eyes of the ¹Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the ²Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Righteousness

^13aAnd who is ¹there to ²harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

¹⁴But even if you should ^asuffer for the sake of righteousness, ^byou ¹are blessed. ^cAnd do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled,

¹⁵but ¹sanctify ^aChrist as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^bto make ²a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^chope that is in you, yet ^dwith gentleness and ^efear,

¹⁶having a ^agood conscience so that in the thing in which ^byou are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.