1 Peter 3:1–16

Godly Living

^1aIn the same way, you wives, ^bbe submissive 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 behavior of their wives,

²as they observe your chaste and ¹respectful behavior.

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

⁴but let it be ^athe hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle 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 submissive to their own husbands;

⁶just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^acalling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right ^1bwithout being frightened by any fear.

^7aYou husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^1bsomeone weaker, 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.

⁸¹To sum up, ^aall of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^bbrotherly, ^ckindhearted, and ^dhumble in spirit;

^9anot returning evil for evil or ^binsult for insult, 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 Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

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

^13aWho is ¹there to harm 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 ²intimidation, and do not be troubled,

¹⁵but ¹sanctify ^aChrist as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^bto make a ²defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet ^cwith gentleness and ^3dreverence;

¹⁶¹and keep a ^agood conscience so that in the thing in which ^byou are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.