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Nashim (wives), submit similarly to your own ba’alim (husbands), that even if any anashim lack mishma’at (obedience) to the Dvar Hashem, they may be won without the Dvar through the hitnahagut (conduct) of their nashim,

When they see your yirat Shomayim and your midas chasidus (quality of piety).

Do not let your adornment be outward, with coiffures and with wearing gold or fine apparel,

But let your adornment be nistar (hidden), adornment shebalev (inwardly) by the imperishable [1:4] adorning of the quiet ruach anavah (humble spirit), which is before Hashem of great worth.

For so formerly also the nashim hakedoshot (holy women) whose tikvah was in Hashem were adorning themselves, submitting themselves to their own ba’alim.

Just so, Sarah submitted in mishma’at (obedience) to Avraham Avinu, calling him ADONI [BERESHIS 18:12]. You nashim became Sarah’s banot (daughters), if you act as nashei tzedek [2:15] and you fear no intimidation [MISHLE 3:25].

Likewise, Ba’alim (Husbands), dwell with them according to the da’as of the isha as a k’li rach (weaker vessel), showing them kavod as also being yoreshim together [3:9] of the mattanah (gift) of the Chen v’Chesed HaChayyim, so that your tefillos will not be hindered [3:12; 4:7].

Now, to say over, all of you be an agudah (bound together union) in your thinking, have achdus, be sympathetic, having ahavah (agape) for the Achim b’Moshiach [Tehillim 133:1], being tenderhearted men of mercy v’shiflei ruach (and lowly of spirit),

Not rendering ra’ah for ra’ah or lashon hora for lashon hora, but, fahkert (on the contrary), rendering a bracha (blessing), because to this tachlis (purpose) you were given your kri’ah (calling), that you may inherit a bracha (blessing).

10 HAISH HECHAFETZ CHAYYIM OHEV YAMIM LIROT TOV ("For the one wanting to love life and to see good days") NETZOR L’SHONECHA MERAH U’SFATECHA MIDABER MIRMAH ("Let him stop his tongue from speaking lashon hora and his lips from speaking remiyah [guile, fraud, deceit]."

11 “Let him turn away from resha and let him do that which is good, let him seek shalom and pursue it");

12 EINEI ADONOI EL TZADDIKIM V’AZNAV EL SHAV’ATAM ("Because the tzaddikim are before the eyes of Hashem and His ears are open to their tefillos." P’NEI ADONOI B’OSEI RAH L’HACHRIT ME’A’RETZ ZICHRAM ("But the face of the L-rd is against the ones doing evil to cut off their memory from the earth" TEHILLIM 34:13-17).

13 And who is the one harming you if you have kana’ut (zeal) for HaTov (The Good)?

14 But if indeed you should suffer tzoros because of Tzidkat Hashem, you are blessed and happy. But do not fear their pachad (terror), neither be troubled.

15 But reverence in your levavot Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach as Adoneinu, prepared always for a hitstaddekut (an apologetic defense) to everyone coming to you with a she’elah (question), ready with a word concerning the tikvah in you,

16 But with anavah (meekness) and yirat Shomayim, having a clear matzpun (conscience [3:21]), so that, when you are maligned by lashon hora, your abusers may be humiliated by your midas chasidus in Moshiach.

17 For im yirtzeh Hashem (if the L-rd wills), it is better to suffer tzoros for doing mitzvot than for doing ra’ah.

18 Because, indeed, Moshiach suffered once on behalf of chatta’im (sins), a Tzaddik (righteous one) on behalf of the chote’im (unrighteous ones, sinners), that he might bring you to Hashem he, having been in the basar [TEHILLIM 16:9-10] put to death, yet, in the Ruach Hakodesh, having been made alive [4:6]; [see Isa 53:8]

19 In which also to the ruchot (spirits) in mishmar (prison), having gone, Moshiach made the hachrazah (proclamation, kerygma)

20 To ones without mishma’at (obedience) back then when the zitzfleisch (patience) of Hashem was waiting, in the days of Noach, while the Teva (Ark) was being prepared, in which a few, that is shemoneh nefashot (eight souls), were delivered through that mabbul’s mikveh mayim;

21 And Moshiach’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim, which this mabbul prefigures, now delivers you, not by means of the removal of filth from the basar, but through the hitchaiy’vut (pledge) of a clean matzpun toward Hashem, through the Techiyas HaMoshiach Yehoshua,

22 Who is at the right hand of Hashem, having gone into Shomayim, with malachim and rashuyot (authorities) and gevurot under his feet.

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) 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 elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Husbands,(J) 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.

Suffering for Doing Good

Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(K) be sympathetic, love one another,(L) be compassionate and humble.(M) Do not repay evil with evil(N) or insult with insult.(O) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(P) because to this(Q) you were called(R) so that you may inherit a blessing.(S) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
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 evil.”[a](T)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(U) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(V) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](W) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(X) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(Y) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(Z) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(AA) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(AB) to suffer for doing good(AC) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(AD) for sins,(AE) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(AF) He was put to death in the body(AG) but made alive in the Spirit.(AH) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(AI) 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(AJ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AK) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AL) were saved(AM) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AN) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AO) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AP) 22 who has gone into heaven(AQ) and is at God’s right hand(AR)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  3. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience