| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, | 1In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, |
| 2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. | 2when they see your pure and reverent conduct. |
| 3Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— | 3Let your beauty not be external--the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes-- |
| 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. | 4but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God's sight. |
| 5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, | 5For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. | 6like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. |
| 7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. | 7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers. |
| 8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. | 8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. |
| 9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. | 9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. |
| 10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; | 10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. |
| 11let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. | 11And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. |
| 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” | 12For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil. |
| 13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? | 13For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, | 14But 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. |
| 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, | 15But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. |
| 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. | 16Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. |
| 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. | 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. |
| 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, | 18Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit. |
| 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, | 19In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison, |
| 20because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. | 20after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. |
| 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you--not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
| 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. | 22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him. |
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