| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard 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, | 1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live |
| 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. | 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. |
| 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— | 3Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments 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. | 4Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. |
| 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, | 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own 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, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. |
| 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, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace 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; | 8Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate 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. | 9not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can 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 the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking 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 what is 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.” | 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. |
| 13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | 13And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to 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 righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, |
| 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 honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. |
| 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. | 16However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. |
| 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. | 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, 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, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. |
| 19by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, | 19In that state He also went and made a proclamation 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 in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few--that is, eight people--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, | 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good 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. | 22Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. |
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