1 Peter 3:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁶ May your conscience be able to so approve of your conduct that, even if you are ridiculed, those doing it will [eventually] have to be ashamed [of themselves] for criticizing your Christian behavior.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ But do so with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, so that, in whatever matter they may slander you, they shall be confounded, since they falsely accuse your good behavior in Christ.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁶ But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:16 Cross References

Matthew 5:11

You will be blessed when people speak against you and harm you and say bad things about you that are untrue, because of [your devotion to] me.

Acts 24:16

So, for this reason I make every effort to have a clear conscience before God and men at all times.

Acts 28:22

But we would like to hear what you think, for according to our knowledge, this sect [you belong to] is being spoken against everywhere.”

Romans 9:1

I am telling [you] the truth in Christ [i.e., since I am a Christian]; I am not lying. My conscience, [confirmed] by the Holy Spirit, supports my statements [as true],

2 Corinthians 1:12

For this is what we boast of: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and godly sincerity, not with human wisdom, but with the favor of God.

2 Corinthians 4:2

Instead, we have renounced [the practice of] secret, disgraceful behavior. We do not practice deception, nor resort to distorting God’s message. But, by making known the truth [i.e., the true message], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the presence of God.

1 Timothy 1:19

holding on to [your] faith and a good conscience. Some people have rejected these things, resulting in the “shipwreck” of their faith [i.e., their spiritual life was ruined].

1 Timothy 1:5

But the goal of this instruction is [to] love [God and people] from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Timothy 1:3

I thank God, whom I worship [or, “serve”] with a clear conscience, as my forefathers did, that I can remember you [i.e., your commitment] continually in my prayers night and day.

Titus 2:8

and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that the person who opposes [us] will have to be ashamed for not having anything bad to say about us.

Hebrews 13:18

Pray for us [continually]. We are convinced that we [i.e., the writer of Hebrews] have a clear conscience [i.e., regarding our relationship to you] and we want to behave properly in every way.

Hebrews 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Holy Spirit [or, His eternal Spirit] offered Himself without [moral] blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from deeds which lead to [spiritual] death to serve the living God?

1 Peter 2:12

You should live such good lives before [unconverted] Gentiles, so that even though they accuse you of being evildoers, by seeing your good deeds, they will [be led to] honor God [for you] on the day He visits us again [i.e., to bring judgment].

1 Peter 2:15

For it is God’s will that, by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorant [talk and actions] of foolish people.

1 Peter 2:19

For those of you who put up with such suffering unjustly, because of your close relationship to God, are to be commended.

1 Peter 3:21

This water prefigured immersion [into Christ], which now also saves you, not by removing dirt from the [physical] body, but [by serving] as an appeal [or, “pledge”] to God for a clear conscience through the raising of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 4:4

Now, those people you used to run around with cannot understand why you have stopped living such wasteful lives, so they just “badmouth” you.