1 Peter 3-5

21st Century King James Version

3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the Word, they also may be won without the word by the conduct of their wives

² while they behold your chaste manner of living coupled with fear.

³ When adorning yourselves, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel;

⁴ but let it be the hidden man of the heart which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price.

⁵ For in this manner in olden times the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands,

⁶ even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. Ye are her daughters as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any bewilderment.

⁷ Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

⁸ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one for another. Love each other as brethren, be sympathetic, be courteous,

⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that ye are called thereto, that ye might inherit a blessing.

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

¹¹ Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

¹³ And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?

¹⁴ But if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye. “And be not afraid of their terror; neither be troubled.”

¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

¹⁶ Have a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they who falsely accuse may be ashamed by your good manner of life in Christ.

¹⁷ For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for welldoing than for evildoing.

¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit,

¹⁹ by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison,

²⁰ who one time were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, (that is, eight souls) were saved by water.

²¹ The like figure to this, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

²² who has gone into Heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.

4 For inasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin,

² that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

³ For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries;

⁴ wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same dissolute excess, speaking evil of you,

⁵ who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

⁶ For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged 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 sober and watch unto prayer.

⁸ And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

⁹ Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

¹⁰ As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

¹¹ If any man speak, let him speak according to the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it according to the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you;

¹³ but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part evil is spoken of Him, but on your part He is glorified.

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

¹⁶ Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this account.

¹⁷ For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begin with us, what shall the end be of those who obey not the Gospel of God?

¹⁸ And, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in welldoing, as unto a faithful Creator.

5 The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

² feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of them, not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre but out of a ready mind,

³ neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but by being examples to the flock.

⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for “God resisteth the proud, and 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 cares upon Him, for He careth for you.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

¹⁰ But after ye have suffered a while, may the God of all grace, who hath called us into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

¹¹ To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² By Silvanus, whom I account to be a faithful brother unto you, I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

¹³ The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you, and so doth Mark, my son.

¹⁴ Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.