1 Peter 3:14

Amplified Bible

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR INTIMIDATING THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED or DISTURBED [by their opposition].

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fearor be intimidated,

King James Version (1611)
But and if ye suffer for righteousnes sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terrour, neither be troubled:

King James Version
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

English Standard Version
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

New American Standard Bible
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE IN DREAD,

New Century Version
But even if you suffer for doing right, you are blessed. "Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things." Isaiah 8:12–13

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

Berean Standard Bible
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken."

Contemporary English Version
Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do.

Complete Jewish Bible
But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don't fear what they fear or be disturbed ,

Darby Translation
But if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye]; but be not afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;

Easy-to-Read Version
But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God's blessing. "Don't be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don't be worried."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Notwithstanding blessed are ye, if ye suffer for righteousnes sake. Yea, feare not their feare, neither be troubled.

George Lamsa Translation
But, and if you suffer for righteousness'' sake, you are blessed: and be not afraid of those who terrify you, neither be troubled.

Good News Translation
But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.

Lexham English Bible
But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,

Literal Translation
But if you truly suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you . "But do not fear their fear, nor be disturbed.

American Standard Version
But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

Bible in Basic English
But you are happy if you undergo pain because of righteousness; have no part in their fear and do not be troubled;

Hebrew Names Version
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."

International Standard Version
But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset.Isaiah 8:12-13; Jeremiah 1:8; Matthew 5:10-12; John 14:1,27; James 1:12; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And (yet) if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy. And you will not fear them who would make you afraid, nor be shaken.

Murdock Translation
But if it should occur, that ye suffer on account of righteousness, happy are ye. And be not terrified, by those who would terrify you, nor be agitated:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea, happy are ye if any trouble happen vnto you for ryghteousnes sake: Be not ye afrayde for any terrour of them, neither be ye troubled:

English Revised Version
But and if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed [are ye]: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

World English Bible
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But even if ye do suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be ye troubled, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

Weymouth's New Testament
But even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are to be envied. So do not be alarmed by their threats, nor troubled;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also if ye suffren ony thing for riytwisnesse, ye ben blessid; but drede ye not the drede of hem, that ye be not disturblid.

Update Bible Version
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are you:] and don't be afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;

Webster's Bible Translation
But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

New English Translation
But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken .

New King James Version
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." Isaiah 8:12">[fn]

New Living Translation
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats.

New Life Bible
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, you will be happy. Do not be afraid or troubled by what they may do to make it hard for you.

New Revised Standard
But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Nevertheless, even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye ! Their fear, however, do not fear, neither be troubled;

Douay-Rheims Bible
But if also you suffer any thing for justice’ sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear: and be not troubled.

Revised Standard Version
But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Not withstondynge happy are ye yf ye suffre for rightewesnessis sake. Ye and feare not though they seme terrible vnto you nether be troubled:

Young's Literal Translation
but if ye also should suffer because of righteousness, happy [are ye]! and of their fear be not afraid, nor be troubled,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not withstodinge blessed are ye, yf ye suffre for righteousnes sake Feare not ye their threatnynge, nether be troubled,

Mace New Testament (1729)
However, if you suffer in the cause of virtue, it is your happiness: and instead of being over-awed by their threats, and struck with concern,

Simplified Cowboy Version
But even if it happens, God will reward you for your right doing and the pain you suffer. Don't fret about their threats.

Contextual Overview

⁸Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit; ⁹and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another's well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection]. ¹⁰For, "THE ONE WHO WANTS TO ENJOY LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS [good—whether apparent or not], MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FREE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE (treachery, deceit). ¹¹"HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. HE MUST SEARCH FOR PEACE [with God, with self, with others] AND PURSUE IT EAGERLY [actively—not merely desiring it]. ¹²"FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE [looking favorably] UPON THE RIGHTEOUS (the upright), AND HIS EARS ARE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR PRAYER (eager to answer), BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL." ¹³Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR INTIMIDATING THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED or DISTURBED [by their opposition].¹⁵But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: 1 Peter 2:19, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 Peter 4:13-16, Jeremiah 15:15, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 10:18-22, Matthew 10:39, Matthew 16:25, Matthew 19:29, Mark 8:35, Mark 10:29, Luke 6:22, Luke 6:23, Acts 9:16, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 1:29, James 1:12

and be: Isaiah 8:12, Isaiah 8:13, Isaiah 41:10-14, Isaiah 51:12, Jeremiah 1:8, Ezekiel 3:9, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 10:31, Luke 12:4, Luke 12:5, John 14:1, John 14:27, Acts 18:9, Acts 18:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:14 - he came Genesis 39:21 - the Lord Psalms 27:3 - host Proverbs 3:25 - Be Ecclesiastes 8:5 - keepeth Isaiah 40:9 - be not Ezekiel 2:6 - though they Zephaniah 3:13 - and Matthew 10:26 - Fear Matthew 24:6 - see Acts 18:14 - when Romans 5:3 - but we Romans 13:3 - Wilt 1 Corinthians 4:12 - being persecuted 2 Timothy 3:12 - shall 1 Peter 3:6 - and 1 Peter 3:17 - suffer 1 Peter 4:14 - ye be 1 Peter 5:9 - the same Revelation 21:8 - the fearful

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, "Can it really be that God has said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel."

Genesis 3:20
The man named his wife Eve (life spring, life giver), because she was the mother of all the living.

Genesis 9:6
"Whoever sheds man's blood [unlawfully], By man (judicial government) shall his blood be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

Leviticus 20:25
'You are therefore to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that crawls on the ground, which I have set apart from you as unclean.

Psalms 72:9
The nomads of the desert will bow before him, And his enemies will lick the dust.

Isaiah 29:4
Then you [Jerusalem] will be brought low, You will speak from the earth, And from the dust where you lie face down Your muffled words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the earth [like one produced by a medium], And your speech will whisper and squeak from the dust.

Isaiah 65:25
"The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox [there will no longer be predator and prey]; and dust will be the serpent's food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain (Zion)," says the LORD.

Micah 7:17
They shall lick the dust like a serpent; Like crawling things of the earth They shall come trembling out of their fortresses and hiding places. They shall turn and come with fear and dread to the LORD our God And they shall be afraid and stand in awe before You [O LORD].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake,.... For the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, which was the great stumbling block to the Jews, and on account of which they persecuted the Christians; it being not after man, nor according to the carnal reason of men, and was contrary to the method they had fixed on, and what excluded boasting in them, and was thought to be a licentious doctrine; and for a righteous cause, for professing Christ and his Gospel; for vindicating both which, whoever did must expect to suffer persecution; and also for living soberly, righteously, and godly; for by a religious life and conversation the saints are separated from the world, and are distinguished from them, which in effect sets a mark of infamy and reproach upon them; and saints, by an agreeable life, reprove others, and condemn them; all which irritate and provoke them to hate and persecute them: now these words prevent an objection that might be made to what is before said; that none can, or will harm such as are followers of good; whereas it is a clear case, that saints for righteousness sake are hurt, and do suffer in their persons, characters, and estate; they are reproached and reviled, and often suffer confiscation of goods, imprisonment, and even death itself; to which the apostle answers, by granting it, and supposing that this should be the case, as it sometimes is; yet no hurt is done them, they are still happy persons: happy are ye; since suffering on such an account is a gift of God, even as believing in Christ itself is, and is a real honour done to a person, and to be so accounted; moreover, such generally enjoy much of the presence of God, and the comforts of his Spirit; the Spirit of God and of glory rests upon them; hereby the graces of the Spirit of God in them are exercised, tried, and proved, and shine out the brighter; the faith and hope of other Christians are strengthened, and God is glorified; and besides, the kingdom of heaven, the crown of life, and eternal glory, with which their sufferings are not to be compared, are theirs, and which they shall certainly enjoy: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; referring to a passage in Isaiah 8:12 and the meaning is either, be not afraid with the same sort of fear as wicked men are; with a worldly slavish fear of men, and of the loss of worldly things, and of life itself: or, afraid of them, as the Syriac version renders it; who inject fear into you; do not be afraid of their revilings and reproaches, of their threatenings and menaces, and even of death itself by them, which is the utmost they can do; do not be troubled at anything they say or do to you; since nothing can harm you, since God is on your side, Christ has delivered you from this present evil world, and saved you out of the hands of every enemy; and since the love of God, which casteth out fear, is shed abroad in your hearts, and you are encompassed with it, and nothing can separate you from it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But and if ye suffer for righteousness” sake - Implying that though, in general, a holy character would constitute safety, yet that there was a possibility that they might suffer persecution. Compare the Matthew 5:10 note; 2 Timothy 3:12 note.

Happy are ye - Perhaps alluding to what the Saviour says in Matthew 5:10; “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness” sake.” On the meaning of the word happy or blessed, see the notes at Matthew 5:3. The meaning here is, not that they would find positive enjoyment in persecution on account of righteousness, but that they were to regard it as a blessed condition; that is, as a condition that might be favorable to salvation; and they were not therefore, on the whole, to regard it as an evil.

And be not afraid of their terror - Of anything which they can do to cause terror. There is evidently an allusion here to Isaiah 8:12-13; “Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” See the notes at that passage. Compare Isaiah 51:12; Matthew 10:28. “Neither be troubled.” With apprehension of danger. Compare the notes at John 14:1. If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven. “All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come,” 1 Corinthians 3:21-22.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. But and if ye suffer — God may permit you to be tried and persecuted for righteousness' sake, but this cannot essentially harm you; he will press even this into your service, and make it work for your good.

Happy are ye] This seems to refer to Matthew 5:10, c. Blessed or happy, are ye when men persecute you, c. It is a happiness to suffer for Christ and it is a happiness, because if a man were not holy and righteous the world would not persecute him, so he is happy in the very cause of his sufferings.

Be not afraid of their terror — Τον δε φοβον αυτων μη φοβηθητε· Fear not their fear see Isaiah 8:12. Sometimes fear is put for the object of a man's religious worship; see Genesis 31:42; Proverbs 1:26, and the place in Isaiah just quoted. The exhortation may mean, Fear not their gods, they can do you no hurt; and supposing that they curse you by them, yet be not troubled; "He who fears God need have no other fear."