1 Peter
3
- Wives, in the same way be submissive to
your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be
won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
- when they see the purity and reverence of
your lives.
- Your beauty should not come from outward
adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
- Instead, it should be that of your inner
self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great
worth in God's sight.
- For this is the way the holy women of the
past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were
submissive to their own husbands,
- like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called
him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give
way to fear.
- Husbands, 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.
- Finally, all of you, live in harmony with
one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
- Do not repay evil with evil or insult with
insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may
inherit a blessing.
- For, "Whoever would love life and see
good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- He must turn from evil and do good; he must
seek peace and pursue it.
- 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."
- Who is going to harm you if you are eager
to do good ?
- But even if you should suffer for what is
right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
- But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
- keeping a clear conscience, so that those
who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed
of their slander.
- It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer
for doing good than for doing evil.
- For Christ died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in
the body but made alive by the Spirit,
- through whom also he went and preached to
the spirits in prison
- who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently
in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people,
eight in all, were saved through water,
- and this water symbolizes baptism that now
saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a
good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- who has gone into heaven and is at God's
right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
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