1 PeterChapter 3
Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.
1Wives, in the same way, put yourselves under your husbands' leadership. Then, even if some husbands refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without a word. They will be won over by the way their wives live. 2They will see how pure and respectful your life is. 3Your beauty should not come from what you put on the outside. It should not come from braided hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes. 4Instead, your beauty should come from who you are inside your heart. It should be the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty never fades, and it is precious to God. 5This is how the holy women of long ago made themselves beautiful. They put their hope in God. They put themselves under their husbands' leadership. 6They were like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her children if you do what is right and don't give in to fear. 7Husbands, in the same way, be thoughtful as you live with your wives. Treat them as more delicate. Honor them, because they will inherit God's gift of life with you. Then nothing will get in the way of your prayers. 8Finally, all of you should agree with each other. Care about each other's feelings. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. 9Don't pay back evil with evil. Don't pay back an insult with an insult. Instead, pay it back with a blessing. God called you to do this so that you would receive a blessing. 10Scripture says,
"Whoever wants to love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from telling lies. 11He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must look for peace and chase after it. 12The eyes of the Lord watch over the righteous.
His ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." 13Who will hurt you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. "Don't be afraid of what they fear. Don't be upset." 15Instead, in your hearts honor Christ as the holy Lord. Always be ready to answer anyone who asks why you have hope. But answer them gently and with respect. 16Keep your conscience clear. Then those who say bad things about you will be ashamed. They will see your good life in Christ. 17If God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18Christ also suffered for sins once for all time. He was righteous, and he suffered for those who are not. He did it to bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was made alive in the Spirit. 19In the Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits in prison. 20Those spirits disobeyed long ago. God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. Only a few people, eight in all, were saved through the water in the ark. 21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you too. Baptism is not washing dirt off the body. It is the promise of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22He has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand. Angels, authorities, and powers are all under his rule.