1 Peter 3-5

American Standard Version

3 In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the ^[a]behavior of their wives; ² beholding your chaste ^[b]behavior coupled with fear. ³ Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; ⁴ but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. ⁵ For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own ^[c]husbands: ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not ^[d]put in fear by any terror.

⁷ Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor ^[e]unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

⁸ Finally, be ye all likeminded, ^[f]compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded: ⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

¹³ And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good? ¹⁴ But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; ¹⁵ but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: ¹⁶ having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. ¹⁷ For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. ¹⁸ Because Christ also ^[h]suffered for sins once, 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; ¹⁹ in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, ²⁰ that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, ^[i]wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: ²¹ which also ^[j]after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the ^[k]interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; ²² who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

4 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same ^[l]mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased ^[m]from sin; ² that ^[n]ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³ For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴ wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same ^[o]excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵ who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For unto this end ^[p]was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto ^[q]prayer: ⁸ above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: ⁹ using hospitality one to another without murmuring: ¹⁰ according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; ¹¹ if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion ^[r]for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If ye are reproached ^[s]for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. ¹⁵ For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters: ¹⁶ but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the ^[t]gospel of God? ¹⁸ And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? ¹⁹ Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

5 The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: ² Tend the flock of God which is among you, ^[u]exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, ^[v]according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³ neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. ^5 [w]Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; ⁷ casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. ⁸ Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁹ whom withstand stedfast in ^[x]your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are ^[y]accomplished in your ^[z]brethren who are in the world. ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself ^[aa]perfect, establish, strengthen ^[ab]you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion ^[ac]for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² By Silvanus, ^[ad]our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein. ^13 [ae]She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son. ¹⁴ Salute one another with a kiss of love.

Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.