OET interlinear 1 PET 4:3

4:3a

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces a reason why Peter’s readers should no longer live to fulfill their human desires. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural to introduce a reason in your language.

you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: A literal translation may imply that the way Peter’s readers spent their time in the past was fine, and now sufficient. However, that is not what Peter meant. He disapproved of how his readers had lived in the past. You may need to make this clear by translating this as:

In the past you spent your time wrongly, doing what pagans choose to do

In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy (NCV)

in the past: The phrase in the past refers to the time before the readers of this letter became Christians. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

You have already lived long enough (CEV)

the same desires as the Gentiles: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the same desires as the Gentiles is more literally “the will/desire of the nations/pagans.” This uses a different word for “desire” than that in 4:2, but it refers to the same thing. Before they became Christians, Peter’s readers did whatever they wanted to do, not what God wanted them to do.

Gentiles: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Gentiles is literally “the nations.” It refers to non-Jewish peoples who did not worship the true God. Some other ways to translate this word include:

people who don’t know God (CEV)

godless people (NLT)

4:3b–d

In these verse parts Peter mentioned some of the sins that were common among the pagans. Not every one of Peter’s readers had done all of these bad things, but these were the sort of things they often used to do. In your translation, use terms that show that Peter was disgusted with all these ways of behaving.

4:3b

debauchery: The Greek word that the BSB translates as debauchery refers to shameful sexual behavior in which the person shows no self control. Other ways to translate this include:

sexual sins (NCV)

you were promiscuous (GW)

you were immoral (CEV)

lust: The Greek word that the BSB translates as lust refers to strong, impure sexual desires. Other translation suggestions include:

evil desires (NCV)

giving way to your passions (NJB)

you…followed your evil desires (CEV)

drunkenness: The Greek word that the BSB translates as drunkenness refers to habitually drinking too much wine or other alcoholic drinks. Another way to translate this is:

always getting drunk

4:3c

orgies, carousing: The Greek words that the BSB translates as orgies and carousing are similar in meaning and refer to feasts where people eat and drink too much and behave without any control. Here is another way to translate these words:

having wild parties and drunken orgies (NJB)

Some translations combine the two ideas into one noun phrase, For example:

wild and drunken parties (NCV)

4:3d

detestable idolatry: The Greek word that the BSB translates as detestable is literally “against the law.” Here it describes behavior that God had forbidden and could therefore be considered shocking and disgusting. If your language has a word meaning “outside the boundaries of law,” you might be able to use it here. Try to use a word that implies something is to be rejected as repulsive. Other English translation models include:

the forbidden worship of idols (REB)

the disgusting worship of idols (GNT)

doing shameful things in your worship of idols