| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; | 1Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, |
| 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. | 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. |
| 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; | 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. |
| 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. | 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. |
| 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: | 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, |
| 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. | 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. |
| 7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. | 7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. |
| 8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: | 8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. |
| 9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. | 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. |
| 10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: | 10For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. |
| 11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. | 11They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. |
| 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. | 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." |
| 13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? | 13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? |
| 14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; | 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." |
| 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: | 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, |
| 16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. | 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. |
| 17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. | 17For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. |
| 18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: | 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. |
| 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; | 19After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits-- |
| 20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. | 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, |
| 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: | 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
| 22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. | 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. |
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