1 Peter 3

Wives and Husbands

1Likewise, wives, abe subject to your own husbands, so that beven if some do not obey the word, cthey may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2when they see your drespectful and pure conduct. 3 eDo 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 fthe 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, gcalling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and hdo not fear anything that is frightening.

7Likewise, ihusbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker jvessel, since they are heirs with you
Some manuscripts  since you are joint heirs
of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

8Finally, all of you, lhave unity of mind, sympathy, mbrotherly love, na tender heart, and oa humble mind. 9 pDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, qbless, for rto this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10For

s“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 twho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 uBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. vHave no fear of them, wnor be troubled, 15but xin your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, yalways 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 zrespect, 16 aahaving a good conscience, so that, abwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For acit is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18For Christ also adsuffered
Some manuscripts died
afonce for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, agthat he might bring us to God, being put to death ahin the flesh but made alive aiin the spirit,
19in which
Or  the Spirit, in whom
he went and akproclaimed
Or preached
to the spirits in prison,
20because
Or when
they formerly did not obey, anwhen God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, aowhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, apeight persons, were brought safely through water.
21Baptism, which corresponds to this, aqnow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but aras an appeal to God for a good conscience, asthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and atis at the right hand of God, auwith angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

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