1 Peter
Chapter 3
1 1 Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct
同样，你们做妻子的，应当服从自己的丈夫，好叫那些不信从天主话的，为了妻子无言的品行而受感化，
2 when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior.
因为他们看见了，你们怀有敬畏的贞洁品行。
3 Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes,
你们的装饰不应是外面的发型、金饰，或衣服的装束，
4 but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God.
而应是那藏于内心，基于不朽的温柔，和宁静心神的人格：这在天主前才是宝贵的。
5 For this is also how the holy women who hoped in God once used to adorn themselves and were subordinate to their husbands;
从前那些仰望天主的圣妇，正是这样装饰了自己，服从了自己的丈夫。
6 thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him ＂lord.＂ You are her children when you do what is good and fear no intimidation.
就如撒辣听从了亚巴郎，称他为＂主＂；你们如果行善，不害怕任何恐吓，你们就是她的女儿。
7 Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 2
同样，你们作丈夫的，应该凭着信仰的智慧与妻子同居，待她们有如较为脆弱的器皿，尊敬她们，有如与你们共享生命恩宠的继承人：这样你们的祈祷便不会受到阻碍。
8 3 Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble.
总之，你们都该同心合意，互表同情，友爱弟兄，慈悲为怀，谦逊温和；
9 Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.
总不要以恶报恶，以骂还骂；但要祝福，因为你们原是为继承祝福而蒙召的。
10 For: ＂Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit,
所以‘凡愿意爱惜生命，和愿意享见幸福日子的，就应谨守口舌，不说坏话，克制嘴唇，不言欺诈；
11 must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it.
躲避邪恶，努力行善，寻求和平，全心追随，
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.＂
因为上主的双目垂顾正义的人，他的两耳俯听他们的哀声；但上主的威容敌视作恶的人。’
13 4 Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good?
如果你们热心行善，谁能加害你们呢？
14 But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them,
但若你们为正义而受苦，才是有福的。你们不要害怕人们的恐吓，也不要心乱，
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
你们但要在心内尊崇基督为主；若有人询问你们心中所怀希望的理由，你们要时常准备答复，
16 but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.
且要以温和、以敬畏之心答复，保持纯洁的良心，好使那些诬告你们在基督内有良好品行的人，在他们诽谤你们的事上，感到羞愧。
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.
若天主的旨意要你们因行善而受苦，自然比作恶而受苦更好，
18 For Christ also suffered 5 for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
因为基督也曾一次为罪而死，且是义人代替不义的人，为将我们领到天主面前；就肉身说，他固然被处死了；但就神魂说，他却复活了。
19 In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, 6
他藉这神魂，曾去给那些在狱中的灵魂宣讲过；
20 who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water.
这些灵魂从前在诺厄建造方舟的时日，天主耐心期待之时，原是不信的人；当时赖方舟经过水而得救的不多，只有八个生灵。
21 This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God 7 for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
这水所预表的圣洗，如今赖耶稣基督的复活拯救了你们，并不是涤除肉体的污秽，而是向天主要求一纯洁的良心。
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
至于耶稣基督，他升了天，坐在天主的右边，众天使、掌权者和异能者都屈伏在他权下。
Footnotes〔注解〕
1 [1-6] The typical marital virtues of women of the ancient world, obedience, reverence, and chastity (1 Peter 3:1-2), are outlined here by the author, who gives them an entirely new motivation: Christian wives are to be virtuous so that they may be instrumental in the conversion of their husbands. In imitation of holy women in the past (1 Peter 3:5) they are to cultivate the interior life (1 Peter 3:4) instead of excessive concern with their appearance (1 Peter 3:3).
2 [7] Husbands who do not respect their wives will have as little success in prayer as those who, according to Paul, have no love: their prayers will be ＂a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal＂ (1 Cor 13:1). Consideration for others is shown as a prerequisite for effective prayer also in Matthew 5:23-24; 1 Cor 11:20-22; James 4:3. After all, whatever the social position of women in the world and in the family, they are equal recipients of the gift of God's salvation. Paul is very clear on this point, too (see 1 Cor 11:11-12; Gal 3:28).
3 [8-12] For the proper ordering of Christian life in its various aspects as described in 1 Peter 2:11-3:9, there is promised the blessing expressed in Psalm 34:13-17. In the Old Testament this refers to longevity and prosperity; here, it also refers to eternal life.
4 [13-22] This exposition, centering on 1 Peter 3:17, runs as follows: by his suffering and death Christ the righteous one saved the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18); by his resurrection he received new life in the spirit, which he communicates to believers through the baptismal bath that cleanses their consciences from sin. As Noah's family was saved through water, so Christians are saved through the waters of baptism (1 Peter 3:19-22). Hence they need not share the fear of sinners; they should rather rejoice in suffering because of their hope in Christ. Thus their innocence disappoints their accusers (1 Peter 3:13-16; cf Matthew 10:28; Romans 8:35-39).
5 [18] Suffered: very many ancient manuscripts and versions read ＂died.＂ Put to death in the flesh: affirms that Jesus truly died as a human being. Brought to life in the spirit: that is, in the new and transformed existence freed from the limitations and weaknesses of natural human life (cf 1 Cor 15:45).
6 [19] The spirits in prison: it is not clear just who these spirits are. They may be the spirits of the sinners who died in the flood, or angelic powers, hostile to God, who have been overcome by Christ (cf 1 Peter 3:22; Genesis 6:4; Enoch 6-36, especially 1 Peter 3:21:6; 2 Enoch 7:1-5).
7 [21] Appeal to God: this could also be translated ＂pledge,＂ that is, a promise on the part of Christians to live with a good conscience before God, or a pledge from God of forgiveness and therefore a good conscience for us.