1 PETER Chapter 3 - Wives And Husbands

Wives And Husbands

Wives, in the same way be Submissive to your husbands

So that, if any of them do not believe the Word,

THAT THEY MAY BE WON OVER WITHOUT TALK

BY THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR WIVES.,

2 WHEN THEY SEE THE PURITY AND REVERENCE OF YOUR LIVES.

3 YOUR BEAUTY SHOULD NOT COME FROM OUTWARD ADORNMENT,

SUCH AS BRAIDED HAIR AND THE WEARING OF GOLD JEWELRY

AND FINE CLOTHES.

4 INSTEAD, 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.

5 For this is the Way the Holy women of the Past

Who put their Hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

They were Submissive to their own husbands,

6 Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham

And called him her master.

YOU ARE HER DAUGHTERS IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT

AND DO NOT GIVE WAY TO FEAR.

7 HUSBANDS, 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

8 Finally, all of you, lie in Harmony with one another;

Be Compassionate and Humble.

9 Do not repay Evil with Evil or Insult with Insult,

But with Blessing,

BECAUSE TO THIS YOUR WERE CALLED

SO THAT YOU MAY INHERIT A BLESSING. For,

'Whoever would love Life and see Good Days

Must keep his Tongue from Evil

And his Lips from Deceitful Speech.

11 He must turn from Evil and do Good;

He must Seek Peace and Pursue it.

12 For 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.'

13 Who is going to Harm you if you are eager to do Good?

14 But even if you should Suffer for what is Right,

YOU ARE BLESSED.

'DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR'

DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED.'

15 BUT IN YOUR HEARTS SET APART 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,

Keeping a Clear Conscience,

So that those who speak Maliciously

Against your Good Behavior In Christ

May be Ashamed of their Slander.

17 It is better, if it is God's Will,

TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD THAN FOR DOING EVIL.

18 FOR CHRIST DIED ONE FOR ALL,

THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS,

TO BRING YOU TO GOD.

HE WAS PUT TO DEATH IN THE BODY

BUT MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT,

19 Through whom also He went and Preached

To the spirits in Prison

20 Who Disobeyed 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,

21 AND THIS WATER SYMBOLIZES BAPTISM

THAT NOW SAVES YOU ALSO--

NOT THE REMOVAL OF DIRT FROM THE BODY

BUT THE PLEDGE OF GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD.

IT SAVES YOU BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST,

22 WHO HAS GONE INTO HEAVEN

AND IS AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND--

WITH ANGELS, AUTHORITIES AND POWERS

IN SUBMISSION TO HIM.

(1 Peter 3)