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James 3 - 1 Peter 3
King James Version
James 3 - 1 Peter 3
King James Version
3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
4 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, 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 offence, 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 marvellous 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 evildoers, 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 Lord's 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 evildoers, 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 cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour 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 thankworthy, 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, that 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.
3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may 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 Sara 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 honour 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 contrariwise 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 over the righteous, and his ears 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 evildoers, 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, the 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 sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering 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:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
James 3 - 1 Peter 3
New International Version
James 3 - 1 Peter 3
New International Version
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) 2 We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(M)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(N) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(P) by their good life, by deeds(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(S) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(U) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(Z) 18 Peacemakers(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AB)
Submit Yourselves to God
4 What causes fights and quarrels(AC) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(AD) within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.(AE) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive,(AF) because you ask with wrong motives,(AG) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous(AH) people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world(AI) means enmity against God?(AJ) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(AK) 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?(AL) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(AN) and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.(AO) Wash your hands,(AP) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(AQ) you double-minded.(AR) 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(AS) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(AT)
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(AU) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them(AV) speaks against the law(AW) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(AX) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(AY) the one who is able to save and destroy.(AZ) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(BA)
Boasting About Tomorrow
13 Now listen,(BB) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(BC) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(BD) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(BE) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(BF) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(BG)
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Now listen,(BH) you rich people,(BI) weep and wail(BJ) because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(BK) 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(BL) 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(BM) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(BN) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(BO) 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(BP) in the day of slaughter.[e](BQ) 6 You have condemned and murdered(BR) the innocent one,(BS) who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(BT) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(BU) for the autumn and spring rains.(BV) 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(BW) is near.(BX) 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(BY) or you will be judged. The Judge(BZ) is standing at the door!(CA)
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(CB) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(CC) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(CD) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(CE) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(CF)
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(CG)
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.(CH) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.(CI) 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders(CJ) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil(CK) in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith(CL) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins(CM) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.(CN) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.(CO)
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are.(CP) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.(CQ) 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.(CR)
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth(CS) and someone should bring that person back,(CT) 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save(CU) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.(CV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,(CW)
To God’s elect,(CX) exiles(CY) scattered(CZ) throughout the provinces of Pontus,(DA) Galatia,(DB) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,(DC) 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge(DD) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(DE) to be obedient(DF) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:(DG)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(DH)
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(DI) In his great mercy(DJ) he has given us new birth(DK) into a living hope(DL) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(DM) 4 and into an inheritance(DN) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(DO) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(DP) 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power(DQ) until the coming of the salvation(DR) that is ready to be revealed(DS) in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice,(DT) though now for a little while(DU) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(DV) 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness(DW) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(DX)—may result in praise, glory and honor(DY) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(DZ) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(EA) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(EB)
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(EC) of the grace that was to come to you,(ED) searched intently and with the greatest care,(EE) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(EF) in them was pointing when he predicted(EG) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(EH) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(EI) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(EJ) Even angels long to look into these things.
Be Holy
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(EK) set your hope(EL) on the grace to be brought to you(EM) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(EN) 14 As obedient(EO) children, do not conform(EP) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(EQ) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(ER) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[f](ES)
17 Since you call on a Father(ET) who judges each person’s work(EU) impartially,(EV) live out your time as foreigners(EW) here in reverent fear.(EX) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(EY) from the empty way of life(EZ) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(FA) of Christ, a lamb(FB) without blemish or defect.(FC) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(FD) but was revealed in these last times(FE) for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God,(FF) who raised him from the dead(FG) and glorified him,(FH) and so your faith and hope(FI) are in God.
22 Now that you have purified(FJ) yourselves by obeying(FK) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,(FL) from the heart.[g] 23 For you have been born again,(FM) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,(FN) through the living and enduring word of God.(FO) 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[h](FP)
And this is the word that was preached to you.
2 Therefore, rid yourselves(FQ) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(FR) of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(FS) so that by it you may grow up(FT) in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(FU)
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone(FV)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(FW) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(FX) into a spiritual house[i](FY) to be a holy priesthood,(FZ) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(GA) 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,(GB)
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[j](GC)
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(GD)
8 and,
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(GH)
9 But you are a chosen people,(GI) a royal priesthood,(GJ) a holy nation,(GK) God’s special possession,(GL) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(GM) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(GN) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends,(GO) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(GP) to abstain from sinful desires,(GQ) which wage war against your soul.(GR) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(GS) and glorify God(GT) on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(GU) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(GV) and to commend those who do right.(GW) 15 For it is God’s will(GX) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(GY) 16 Live as free people,(GZ) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(HA) live as God’s slaves.(HB) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(HC) fear God, honor the emperor.(HD)
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(HE) not only to those who are good and considerate,(HF) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(HG) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(HH) 21 To this(HI) you were called,(HJ) because Christ suffered for you,(HK) leaving you an example,(HL) that you should follow in his steps.
23 When they hurled their insults at him,(HO) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(HP) Instead, he entrusted himself(HQ) to him who judges justly.(HR) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(HS) in his body on the cross,(HT) so that we might die to sins(HU) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(HV) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[n](HW) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(HX) and Overseer of your souls.(HY)
3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(HZ) to your own husbands(IA) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(IB) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(IC) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(ID) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(IE) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(IF) used to adorn themselves.(IG) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(IH) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands,(II) 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
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(IJ) be sympathetic, love one another,(IK) be compassionate and humble.(IL) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(IM) or insult with insult.(IN) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(IO) because to this(IP) you were called(IQ) so that you may inherit a blessing.(IR) 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.”[o](IS)
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(IT) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(IU) “Do not fear their threats[p]; do not be frightened.”[q](IV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(IW) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(IX) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(IY) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(IZ) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(JA) to suffer for doing good(JB) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(JC) for sins,(JD) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(JE) He was put to death in the body(JF) but made alive in the Spirit.(JG) 19 After being made alive,[r] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(JH)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(JI) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(JJ) In it only a few people, eight in all,(JK) were saved(JL) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(JM) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(JN) toward God.[s] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(JO) 22 who has gone into heaven(JP) and is at God’s right hand(JQ)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(JR)
Footnotes
- James 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
- James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
- James 4:6 Prov. 3:34
- James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.
- James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting
- 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2
- 1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
- 1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
- 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
- 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
- 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
- 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
- 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
- 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
- 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
- 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
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