1 Peter 3 - New International Version (NIV)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands,(J) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(K) be sympathetic, love one another,(L) be compassionate and humble.(M) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(N) or insult with insult.(O) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(P) because to this(Q) you were called(R) so that you may inherit a blessing.(S) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a](T)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(U) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(V) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](W) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(X) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(Y) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(Z) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(AA) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(AB) to suffer for doing good(AC) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(AD) for sins,(AE) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(AF) He was put to death in the body(AG) but made alive in the Spirit.(AH) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(AI)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(AJ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AK) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AL) were saved(AM) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AN) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AO) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AP) 22 who has gone into heaven(AQ) and is at God’s right hand(AR)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  3. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience

Cross references

  1. 1 Peter 3:1 : 1Pe 2:18
  2. 1 Peter 3:1 : S Eph 5:22
  3. 1 Peter 3:1 : 1Co 7:16; 9:19
  4. 1 Peter 3:3 : Isa 3:18-23; 1Ti 2:9
  5. 1 Peter 3:4 : Ro 7:22; Eph 3:16
  6. 1 Peter 3:4 : S Ro 2:29
  7. 1 Peter 3:5 : 1Ti 5:5
  8. 1 Peter 3:5 : Est 2:15
  9. 1 Peter 3:6 : Ge 18:12
  10. 1 Peter 3:7 : Eph 5:25-33; Col 3:19
  11. 1 Peter 3:8 : S Ro 15:5
  12. 1 Peter 3:8 : S Ro 12:10
  13. 1 Peter 3:8 : Eph 4:2; 1Pe 5:5
  14. 1 Peter 3:9 : Ro 12:17; 1Th 5:15
  15. 1 Peter 3:9 : 1Pe 2:23
  16. 1 Peter 3:9 : S Mt 5:44
  17. 1 Peter 3:9 : S 1Pe 2:21
  18. 1 Peter 3:9 : S Ro 8:28
  19. 1 Peter 3:9 : Heb 6:14
  20. 1 Peter 3:12 : Ps 34:12-16
  21. 1 Peter 3:13 : S Tit 2:14
  22. 1 Peter 3:14 : ver 17; 1Pe 2:19, 20; 4:15, 16
  23. 1 Peter 3:14 : Isa 8:12, 13
  24. 1 Peter 3:15 : Col 4:6
  25. 1 Peter 3:15 : S Heb 3:6
  26. 1 Peter 3:16 : ver 21; S Ac 23:1
  27. 1 Peter 3:16 : 1Pe 2:12, 15
  28. 1 Peter 3:17 : 1Pe 2:15; 4:19
  29. 1 Peter 3:17 : 1Pe 2:20; 4:15, 16
  30. 1 Peter 3:18 : S Heb 7:27
  31. 1 Peter 3:18 : 1Pe 2:21; 4:1, 13
  32. 1 Peter 3:18 : S Ro 5:2
  33. 1 Peter 3:18 : Col 1:22; 1Pe 4:1
  34. 1 Peter 3:18 : 1Pe 4:6
  35. 1 Peter 3:19 : 1Pe 4:6
  36. 1 Peter 3:20 : S Ro 2:4
  37. 1 Peter 3:20 : Ge 6:3, 5, 13, 14
  38. 1 Peter 3:20 : Ge 8:18
  39. 1 Peter 3:20 : Heb 11:7
  40. 1 Peter 3:21 : S Ac 22:16
  41. 1 Peter 3:21 : ver 16; S Ac 23:1
  42. 1 Peter 3:21 : 1Pe 1:3
  43. 1 Peter 3:22 : S Heb 4:14
  44. 1 Peter 3:22 : S Mk 16:19
  45. 1 Peter 3:22 : S Mt 28:18; S Ro 8:38

You Might Also Like:

1 Peter 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 In like manner, the wives, be ye subject to your own husbands, that even if certain are disobedient to the word, through the conversation of the wives, without the word, they may be won, 2 having beheld your pure behaviour in fear, 3 whose adorning -- let it not be that which is outward, of plaiti...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 Also women be they subject to their husbands; that if any man believe not to the word[a], by the conversation of women they be won without word. 2 And behold ye in dread your holy conversation. 3 Of whom be there not withoutforth curious adorning of hair, either doing about of gold, either adorn...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 Wives, respect and obey your husbands in the same way. Then the husbands who do not obey the word of God will want to know God. They will want to know God because their wives live good lives, even though they say nothing about God. 2 They will see that you live holy lives and respect your husbands...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 In 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, 2 seeing your pure behavior in fear. 3 Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jew...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

Peter calls all believers to humility, submission, and service: everyone to God, citizens to rulers, slaves to masters, wives to husbands, and younger to elders.3 1-2 In the same way, wives, you should patiently accept the authority of your husbands. This is so that even if they don’t obey God’s wor...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

3 Likewise, wives, be submitted to your own husbands so that—even if some do not obey the message—by the wives’ conduct, without a word they may be won over 2 as they observe your pure, reverent conduct. [a] 3 Don’t let your beauty[b] be external—braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry or fine c...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Wives and Husbands3 Likewise you wives,[a] be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see your reverent and chaste behavior. 3 Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, dec...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Wives and Husbands3 Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see your reverent and chaste behavior. 3 Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decora...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 Likewise, let the wives be subject to their husbands, so that even those who do not obey the word may be won by the behavior of the wives (without word) 2 while they observe your upright conduct, which is with fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be outward, braiding your hair or putting on gold or w...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Marriage and Its Challenges3 In the same way, let me say a word to the women. You should be subject to your husbands, so that if there should be some who disobey the word, they may be won, without a word, through the behaviour of their wives, 2 as they notice you conducting yourselves with reverenc...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Wives and Husbands3 Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braidin...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Wives and Husbands3 Wives, in the same way, be subject to your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,(A)2 when they see the purity and respect of your conduct. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hai...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

How wives ought to order themselves toward their husbands and in their apparel. The duty of men toward their wives. He exhorts them all to unite and to love, and patiently to suffer trouble. Of baptism. 3 Likewise let the wives be subject to their husbands, so that even those who do not believe in t...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Wives3 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fa...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

Teaching for Married Christians3 Wives, obey your own husbands. Some of your husbands may not obey the Word of God. By obeying your husbands, they may become Christians by the life you live without you saying anything. 2 They will see how you love God and how your lives are pure. 3 Do not let your...
Read More

1 Peter 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Submission to Husbands3 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 out...
Read More