Parallel Verses
Twentieth Century New Testament
It is better that you should suffer, if that should be God's will, for doing right, than for doing wrong.
New American Standard Bible
For
King James Version
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Holman Bible
For it is better to suffer
International Standard Version
After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
A Conservative Version
For it is better to suffer doing good, if the will of God desires, than for doing evil.
American Standard Version
For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Amplified
For it is better that you suffer [unjustly] for doing what is right, if that should be God’s will, than [to suffer justly] for doing wrong.
An Understandable Version
For, if it is God's will that you should suffer, it is better [for you] that it be on account of doing right than doing wrong.
Anderson New Testament
For it is better, if such be the will of God, that you suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.
Bible in Basic English
Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Common New Testament
For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.
Daniel Mace New Testament
for since it is the will of heaven you should suffer, it is better you should suffer for your virtue, than for any crimes.
Darby Translation
For it is better, if the will of God should will it, to suffer as well-doers than as evildoers;
Emphatic Diaglott Bible
For it is better to suffer as well doers, if the will of God appoints it, than as evil doers.
Godbey New Testament
For it is better, doing good, if the will of the Lord should will it, to suffer, rather than doing evil.
Goodspeed New Testament
For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.
John Wesley New Testament
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Julia Smith Translation
Fur better, doing good, if the will of God will, to suffer, than doing evil.
King James 2000
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Lexham Expanded Bible
For [it is] better to suffer for doing good, {if God wills it}, than for doing evil.
Modern King James verseion
For it is better, if the will of God wills it, to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
It is better - if the will of God be so - that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Moffatt New Testament
For it is better to suffer for doing right (if that should be the will of God) than for doing wrong.
Montgomery New Testament
For it is better that you suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing wrong;
NET Bible
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
New Heart English Bible
For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
Noyes New Testament
For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for welldoing, than for evildoing.
Sawyer New Testament
For it is better to suffer doing good, if the will of God allows, than doing evil.
The Emphasized Bible
For it is, better, as well-doers, if it should please the pleasure of God, to be suffering, than, as evil-doers:
Thomas Haweis New Testament
For it is better (if it be God's will) to suffer as well doers than as evil doers.
Webster
For it is better, if the will of God is so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing.
Weymouth New Testament
For it is better that you should suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing evil;
Williams New Testament
For it is better, if the will of God should plan it so, to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
World English Bible
For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
Worrell New Testament
For it is better, if the will of God should will it, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing;
Worsley New Testament
For it is better (if it be the will of God) to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Youngs Literal Translation
for it is better doing good, if the will of God will it, to suffer, than doing evil;
Topics
Interlinear
thelo
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 38 Translations in 1 Peter 3:17
Verse Info
Context Readings
Suffer For Doing What Is Good
16 and keeping your consciences clear, so that, whenever you are maligned, those who vilify your good and Christian conduct may be put to shame. 17 It is better that you should suffer, if that should be God's will, for doing right, than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all--the good on behalf of the bad--that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering upon new Life.
Cross References
1 Peter 2:20
What credit can you claim when, after doing wrong, you take your punishment for it patiently? But, on the other hand, if, after doing right, you take your sufferings patiently, that does win the approval of God.
1 Peter 4:19
Therefore, I say, let those who suffer, because God wills it so, commit their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, and persevere in doing right.
Matthew 26:39
Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in prayer. "My Father," he said, "if it is possible, let me be spared this cup; only, not as I will, but as thou willest."
Matthew 26:42
Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. "My Father," he said, "if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, thy will be done!"
Acts 21:14
So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding--"The Lord's will be done."
1 Peter 2:15
For God's will is this--that you should silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right.
1 Peter 3:14
Even if you should suffer for righteousness, count yourselves blessed! 'Do not let men terrify you, or allow yourselves to be dismayed.'
1 Peter 4:15
I need hardly say that no one among you must suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or for interfering in matters which do not concern Christians.