1 Peter

1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word,

2seeing your pure behavior in fear.

3Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,

4but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

5For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

6So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.

7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

10For,“He who would love lifeand see good days,let him keep his tongue from eviland 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 open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?

14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.

18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

1In like manner also let wives be subject to their husbands: that if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word, by the conversation of the wives.

2Considering your chaste conversation with fear.

3Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:

4But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.

5For after this manner heretofore the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any disturbance.

7Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.

8And in fine, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble:

9Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

11Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue it:

12Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.

13And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good?

14But if also you suffer any thing for justice’ sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled.

15But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.

16But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer, than doing ill.

18Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,

19In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison:

20Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

21Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.