ISV - I Peter - 3

3:1  Wives and HusbandsIn a similar way, you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands so that, even if some of them refuse to obey the word, they may be won over without a word through your conduct as wives

3:2  when they see your pure and reverent lives.

3:3  Your beauty should not be an external one, consisting of braided hair or the wearing of gold ornaments and dresses.

3:4  Instead, it should be the inner disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God.

3:5  After all, this is how holy women who set their hope on God used to make themselves beautiful in the past. They submitted themselves to their husbands,

3:6  just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters by doing good and by not letting anything terrify you.

3:7  In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate vessel.Lit. the weaker vessel Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers.

3:8  When You Are WrongedFinally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble.

3:9  Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.

3:10  For “the person who wants to love lifeand see good days must keep his tongue from eviland his lips from speaking deceit.

3:11  He must turn away from evil and do good.He must seek peace and pursue it.

3:12  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 wrong.”Ps 34:12-16

3:13  Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good?

3:14  But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset.

3:15  Instead, exaltOr set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.

3:16  But do thisThe Gk. lacks do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in Christ will be ashamed of slandering you.

3:17  After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.

3:18  For Christ also sufferedOther mss. read died for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that he could bring youOther mss. read us to God. He was put to death in the sphere of the flesh but was made alive in the sphere of the spirit,Or Spirit

3:19  in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits

3:20  who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water.

3:21  Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:22  who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him.