1 Peter 3

New King James Version

Submission to Husbands

3 Wives, likewise, be ^(A)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, ^(B)they, without a word, may ^(C)be won by the conduct of their wives, ²^(D)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³^(E)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴rather let it be ^(F)the hidden person of the heart, with the ^[a]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(G)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

⁷^(H)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ^(I)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, ^(J)that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^[b]courteous; ⁹^(K)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary ^(L)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, ^(M)that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For

^(N)“He who would love life
And see good days,
^(O)Let him ^[c]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹Let him ^(P)turn away from evil and do good;
^(Q)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
^(R)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

¹³^(S)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴^(T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ^(U)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵But ^[d]sanctify ^[e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(V)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(W)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶^(X)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ^[f]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰who formerly were disobedient, ^[g]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹^(Y)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism ^(Z)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, ^(AA)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and ^(AB)is at the right hand of God, ^(AC)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.