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.