Shared Word Translation
1 Peter 3
Wives and Husbands
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your pure conduct in reverent fear. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear— but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is of great worth. For in this way formerly the holy women who hoped in God adorned themselves, being subject to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you have become her children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives according to knowledge, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are also co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving one another, tenderhearted, humble,
not repaying evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.
For,
“Whoever desires to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
For 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.”
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ as holy as Lord, always being ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverent fear, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Christ’s Suffering and Victory
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were brought safely through water. Corresponding to this, baptism now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.