| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, | 1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives |
| 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. | 2when they see your pure and reverent demeanor. |
| 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— | 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, |
| 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. | 4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. |
| 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, | 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. | 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear. |
| 7Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. | 7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. |
| 8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; | 8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. |
| 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. | 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. |
| 10For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. | 10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. |
| 11Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. | 11He must turn 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 prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” | 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” |
| 13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | 13Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” | 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” |
| 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; | 15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, |
| 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. | 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. |
| 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. | 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. |
| 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, | 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, 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 whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, | 19in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison |
| 20who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. | 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. |
| 21There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
| 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. | 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. |
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