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 conductaccompaniedby fear.³^(E)Do not let your adornment bemerelyoutward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting onfineapparel—⁴ratherlet it be^(F)the hidden person of the heart, with the^[a]incorruptiblebeautyof 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 withthemwith understanding, giving honor to the wife,^(I)as to the weaker vessel, and asbeingheirs together of the grace of life,^(J)that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸Finally, allof you beof one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers,betenderhearted,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 theLordareon the righteous,
^(R)And His earsare opento their prayers;
But the face of theLordisagainst those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

¹³^(S)And whoishe who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?¹⁴^(T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake,you areblessed.^(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)beready togivea 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.¹⁷Forit isbetter, 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, whiletheark 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.