I PETER CHAPTER III.

[1 He teacheth the duty of wives and husbands, 8 exhorting all men to unity and love, 14 and to suffer boldly for righteousness sake.] 

LIKEWISE, ye wives, be in subjection to your 
own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, 
they also may be without the word be won by the 
conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation
coupled with fear. 
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward 
adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, 
or of putting on of apparel; 
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that 
which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and 
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy 
women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him 
lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do 
well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 
7 Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according 
to knowledge, giving hour unto the wife, as 
unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of 
the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion 
one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, 
be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for 
railing: but contrawise, blessing; knowing that ye are 
thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, 
let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips 
that they speak no guile: 
11 Let him eschew evil and do good: let him
seek peace, and ensue it. 
12 For the eyes of the Lord are open unto their prayers: but 
the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be 
followers of that which is good? 
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, 
happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, 
neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every 
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is 
in you, with meekness and fear. 
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas 
they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be 
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation 
in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that 
ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. 
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, being 
just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being
put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto 
the spirits in prison; 
20 Which sometimes were disobedient, when once 
the long-suffering of God waited in the days of 
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, 
that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 
21 The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth
also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth
of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience 
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 
hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers 
being made subject unto him.  

PETER CHAPTER II.

[1 He inciteth them against uncharitableness; 4 he sheweth their privileges 
through Christ the chief corner-stone: 11 he beseecheth them to abstain from
fleshly lusts...]

WHEREFORE, laying aside all malice, and 
all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all 
evil-speakings,
2 As new-born babies, desire the sincere milk
of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed
indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual 
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold,
I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the 
stone which the builders disallowed, the same is 
made the head of the corner. 
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,
even to them which stumble at the word, being 
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye 
should shew forth the praises of him who hath 
called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are
now the people of God: which had not obtained 
mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war 
against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the 
Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as 
evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they 
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for 
the Lords sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent 
by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for 
the praise of them that do well. 
15 For so is the will of God, that with well-doing
ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a 
cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. 
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all 
fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to 
the froward.
19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience 
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted
for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, 
when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, 
this is acceptable with God. 
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because 
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 
the ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in 
his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;
when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed 
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body
on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live 
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now 
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.