Chapter 3

Godly Living

1 aIn the same way, you wives, bbe submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be cwon without a word by the behavior of their wives,

2 as they observe your chaste and 1respectful behavior.

3 aYour adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

4 but let it be athe hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, awho hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, acalling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right 1bwithout being frightened by any fear.

7 aYou husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with 1bsomeone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

8 1To sum up, aall of you be harmonious, sympathetic, bbrotherly, ckindhearted, and dhumble in spirit;

9 anot returning evil for evil or binsult for insult, but 1giving a cblessing instead; for dyou were called for the very purpose that you might einherit a blessing.

10 For,

“aThe one who desires life, to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 “aHe must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

12 “aFor the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 aWho is 1there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should asuffer for the sake of righteousness, byou 1are blessed. cAnd do not fear their 2intimidation, and do not be troubled,

15 but 1sanctify aChrist as Lord in your hearts, always being ready bto make a 2defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ahope that is in you, yet cwith gentleness and 3dreverence;

16 1and keep a agood conscience so that in the thing in which byou are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

17 For ait is better, bif 1God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

18 For aChrist also died for sins bonce for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might cbring us to God, having been put to death din the flesh, but made alive ein the 1spirit;

19 in 1which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

20 who once were disobedient, when the apatience of God bkept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of cthe ark, in which a few, that is, deight epersons, were brought safely through the 1water.

21 aCorresponding to that, baptism now saves you—bnot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God 1for a cgood conscience—through dthe resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 awho is at the right hand of God, bhaving gone into heaven, cafter angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Chapter 4

Keep Fervent in Your Love

1 Therefore, since aChrist has 1suffered in the flesh, barm yourselves also with the same purpose, because che who has 1suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 aso as to live bthe rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the cwill of God.

3 For athe time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, 1bhaving pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and 2abominable idolatries.

4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of adissipation, and they bmalign you;

5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge athe living and the dead.

6 For athe gospel has for this purpose been 1preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 aThe end of all things 1is near; therefore, bbe of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of 2prayer.

8 Above all, akeep fervent in your love for one another, because blove covers a multitude of sins.

9 aBe hospitable to one another without bcomplaint.

10 aAs each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good bstewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 aWhoever speaks, is to do so 1as one who is speaking the butterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving 2cby the strength which God supplies; so that din all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, eto whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 aBeloved, do not be surprised at the bfiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but to the degree that you ashare the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the brevelation of His glory cyou may rejoice with exultation.

14 If you are reviled 1afor the name of Christ, byou are blessed, cbecause the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 Make sure that anone of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a 1btroublesome meddler;

16 but if anyone suffers as a aChristian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to bglorify God in this name.

17 For it is time for judgment ato begin 1with bthe household of God; and if it cbegins with us first, what will be the outcome for those dwho do not obey the egospel of God?

18 aAnd if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, 1what will become of the bgodless man and the sinner?

19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to athe will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Chapter 5

Serve God Willingly

1 aTherefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your bfellow elder and cwitness of the sufferings of Christ, and a dpartaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

2 shepherd athe flock of God among you, exercising oversight bnot under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and cnot for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

3 nor yet as alording it over 1those allotted to your charge, but 2proving to be bexamples to the flock.

4 And when the Chief aShepherd appears, you will receive the bunfading 1ccrown of glory.

5 aYou younger men, likewise, bbe subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with chumility toward one another, for dGod is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore ahumble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your aanxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

8 aBe of sober spirit, bbe on the alert. Your adversary, cthe devil, prowls around like a roaring dlion, seeking someone to devour.

9 1aBut resist him, bfirm in your faith, knowing that cthe same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your 2brethren who are in the world.

10 After you have suffered afor a little while, the bGod of all grace, who ccalled you to His deternal glory in Christ, will Himself eperfect, fconfirm, strengthen and establish you.

11 aTo Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Through aSilvanus, our faithful brother 1(for so I regard him), bI have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is cthe true grace of God. dStand firm in it!

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, aMark.

14 aGreet one another with a kiss of love.

bPeace be to you all who are in Christ.

The Second Letter of

PETER