Submission to Husbands

3 Wives, likewise, be asubmissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, bthey, without a word, may cbe won by the conduct of their wives, 2 dwhen they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 eDo not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be fthe hidden person of the heart, with the 1incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, gcalling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

7 hHusbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ias to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, jthat your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be 2courteous; 9 knot returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary lblessing, knowing that you were called to this, mthat you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

n“He who would love life

And see good days,

oLet him 3refrain his tongue from evil,

And his lips from speaking deceit.

11 Let him pturn away from evil and do good;

qLet him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

rAnd His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 sAnd who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 tBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. u“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But 4sanctify 5the Lord God in your hearts, and always vbe ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the whope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 xhaving a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring 6us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, 7when 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. 21 yThere is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism z(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, abut the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and bis at the right hand of God, cangels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Shepherd the Flock

5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a awitness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the bglory that will be revealed: 2 cShepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, dnot by compulsion but 1willingly, enot for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as fbeing 2lords over gthose entrusted to you, but hbeing examples to the flock; 4 and when ithe Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive jthe crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, kall of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

l“God resists the proud,

But mgives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8 Be 3sober, be 4vigilant; 5because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But 6may the God of all grace, nwho called 7us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, 8perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 oTo Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Farewell and Peace

12 By pSilvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying qthat this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does rMark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.