1 Peter 3
1 Wives, accept your husbands' authority in the same way, so that if some husbands refuse to accept the word, they may still be won over without words by the way you behave,
Again, you married women should submit to your husbands, so that if any of them reject the message, they may, apart from the message, be won over, by the conduct of their wives,
2 recognizing your pure and reverent behavior.
as they see your pure, reverent conduct.
3 Don't focus on outward attractiveness—hairstyles, gold jewelry, or fashionable clothes—
Yours should be, not the external adornment of the arrangement of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or the putting on of dresses,
4 instead let it come from within, the lasting attractiveness of a gentle and peaceful spirit on the inside. That's what God values.
but the inner life with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit; for this is very precious in God’s sight.
5 This is how holy women of the past who put their confidence in God made themselves beautiful, yielding to their husbands,
It was by this that the holy women of old, who rested their hopes on God, adorned themselves; submitting to their husbands,
6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, and called him “lord.” You are her daughters if you do what's good and right and are not intimidated.
as Sarah did, who obeyed Abraham, and called him master. And you are her true children, as long as you live good lives, and let nothing terrify you.
7 Husbands, in just the same way, be considerate to your wives as you live together with them. Though she may not be as strong as you are, you should honor her since she will inherit equally with you God's gift of life. Make sure to do this so nothing will get in the way of your prayers.
Again, those of you who are married men should live considerately with their wives, showing due regard to their sex, as physically weaker than their own, and not forgetting that they share with you in the gift of life. Then you will be able to pray without hindrance.
8 Finally, you should all have the same attitude. Be sympathetic and love each other. Be compassionate, and humble.
Lastly, you should all be united, sympathetic, full of love for each other, kind-hearted, humble-minded;
9 Don't pay back evil for evil, or retaliate when you're abused, instead you should give a blessing—because that's what you were called to do, so you could gain a blessing yourself.
never returning evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, blessing. It was to this that you were called – to obtain a blessing!
10 Remember: “Those who want to love life, and to see good days, must refrain from speaking evil, and not tell lies.
‘The person who wants to enjoy life and see happy days – they should keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful words,
11 Turn away from evil and do good; search for peace—run after it!
they should turn from evil and do good, They should seek for peace and follow after it;
12 For God sees those who do right, and he hears their prayers, but he opposes those who do evil.”
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is set against those who do wrong.’
13 Who will harm you if you're keen to do good?
Who, indeed, is there to harm you, if you prove yourselves to be eager for what is good?
14 For even if you suffer for doing what's right, you're still better off. Don't be scared over what people threaten, don't worry about it;
Even if you should suffer for righteousness, count yourselves blessed! ‘Do not let people terrify you, or allow yourselves to be dismayed.’
15 just keep your mind focused on Christ as Lord. Always be ready to explain to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have. Do this in a gentle and respectful way.
Revere the Christ as Lord in your hearts; always ready to give an answer to anyone who asks your reason for the hope that you cherish, but giving it with courtesy and respect,
16 Make sure your conscience is clear, so that if anyone makes accusations against you, they will be embarrassed for speaking badly about the good way you live your life in Christ.
and keeping your consciences clear, so that, whenever you are maligned, those who vilify your good and Christian conduct may be put to shame.
17 It's certainly better to suffer for doing good, (if that's what God wants), than to suffer for doing wrong!
It is better that you should suffer, if that should be God’s will, for doing right, than for doing wrong.
18 Jesus died because of sins, once and for all, the one who is completely true and good and right died for those who are bad, so that he could bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but he came to life in the spirit.
For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all – the good on behalf of the bad – that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering on new life.
19 He went to speak to those “imprisoned”
And it was then that he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits,
20 that refused to believe, when God patiently waited in the time of Noah while the ark was being built. Only a few—in fact eight people—were saved “through water.”
who once were disobedient, at the time when God patiently waited, in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared; in which some few lives, eight in all, were saved by means of water.
21 This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you, not by washing off dirt from your body, but as a positive response to God that comes from a clear conscience. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes your salvation possible.
And baptism, which this foreshadowed, now saves you – not the mere cleansing of the body, but the search of a clear conscience after God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 Having ascended to heaven, he stands at God's right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers placed under his control.
who has gone into heaven, and is at God’s right hand, where angels and archangels and the powers of heaven now yield submission to him.
