Wives and Husbands

1In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2as they observe your pure conduct with fear. 3Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; 4but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, [†]NOT FEARING ANY INTIMIDATION.

7You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

8[†]Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit; 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but [†]giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10For,

“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,

MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

11HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;

HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

12FOR THE EYES OF THE [†]LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,

AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,

BUT THE FACE OF THE [†]LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

Suffering for Righteousness

13And who is [†]there to [†]harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you [†]are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR FEAR, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15but [†]sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make [†]a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear, 16having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17For it is better, if [†]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might bring you to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the [†]spirit; 19in [†]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the [†]water. 21Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal [†]of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.