Wives and Husbands

3 In the same way, wives, f submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, g they may be won over h i without a message by the way their wives live j 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. k 3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments l or fine clothes. m 4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside n the heart o with the imperishable quality of a gentle p and quiet q spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. 5 For in the past, the holy r women who put their hope s in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah t obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. u

7 Husbands, v in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature w x yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Do No Evil

8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, y z and be compassionate a and humble, b 9 not paying back evil for evil c or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, d since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

10 For the e one who wants to love life

and to see good days

must keep his tongue from evil f

and his lips from speaking deceit, g

11 and he must turn away h from evil

and do what is good.

He must seek peace i and pursue it,

12 because 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. j

Undeserved Suffering

13 And who will harm k you if you are deeply committed to what is good? l 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, m you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear n or be disturbed, o p 15 but honor q the * Messiah r as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason s for the hope that is in you. t 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, u v w so that when you are accused, x those who denounce your Christian life y will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer z for doing good, if that should be God’s will, a than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered b for sins once for all, c d

the righteous for the unrighteous, e

that He might bring you f to God, g

after being put to death in the fleshly realm h i

but made alive in the spiritual realm. j

19 In that state k He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits l in prison m 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah n while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people o p—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, q but the pledge r of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. s 22 Now that He has gone into heaven, t He is at God’s right hand u with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. v