1Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives,2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes.4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for doing good
8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.10For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.11They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ (Ps 34:12)13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats[1]; do not be frightened.’ (Isa 8:12)15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.19After being made alive,[2] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits –20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,21and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience towards God.[3] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
1 Peter 3
English Standard Version
Wives and Husbands
1Likewise, 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, (Ge 3:16; Mt 18:15; 1Co 7:16; 1Co 9:19)2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (Tit 2:5)3Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— (Isa 3:18; 1Ti 2:9)4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. (Ro 2:29; Ro 7:22; 2Co 4:16; Eph 3:16)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, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (Ge 18:12; Pr 3:25)7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[1] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (Eph 5:25; Col 3:19; 1Th 4:4)
Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (Ro 12:16; Eph 4:2; Eph 4:32; Heb 13:1)9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (Lu 6:28; Ro 12:14; Ro 12:17; 1Co 4:12; 1Pe 2:21; 1Pe 2:23)10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; (Ps 34:12)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 who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (Pr 16:7)14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, (Isa 8:12; Mt 5:10; Mt 10:28; Joh 14:1; Joh 14:27; 1Pe 2:19; 1Pe 3:6; 1Pe 4:14; 1Pe 4:16)15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always 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 respect, (Isa 29:23; Mt 6:9; Col 4:6; 2Ti 2:25; 1Pe 1:17)16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12)17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1Pe 2:20; 1Pe 4:15)18For Christ also suffered[2] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, (Ro 4:25; Ro 5:2; 2Co 13:4; Col 1:22; Heb 9:26; Heb 9:28; 1Pe 2:21; 1Pe 4:1; 1Pe 4:6)19in which[3] he went and proclaimed[4] to the spirits in prison, (1Pe 3:18)20because[5] they 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 persons, were brought safely through water. (Ge 6:3; Ge 6:5; Ge 6:13; Ge 7:1; Ge 7:7; Ge 7:23; Ge 8:18; Heb 11:7; 2Pe 2:5)21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (Mr 16:16; Ac 16:33; Ro 6:3; Ro 10:10; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:3)22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (Ac 2:33; Ro 8:34; Ro 8:38; 1Co 15:24; Eph 1:20; Eph 1:21; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3)