Wives and Husbands
Likewise, wives, abe subject to your own husbands, so that beven if some do not obey the word, cthey may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your arespectful and pure conduct. 3 aDo not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be athe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, acalling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and bdo not fear anything that is frightening.
7 Likewise, ahusbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker bvessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
8 Finally, all of you, ahave unity of mind, sympathy, bbrotherly love, ca tender heart, and da humble mind. 9 aDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bbless, for cto this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
a“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now awho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 aBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. bHave no fear of them, cnor be troubled, 15 but ain your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, balways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and crespect, 16 ahaving a good conscience, so that, bwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For ait is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also asuffered bonce for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, cthat he might bring us to God, being put to death din the flesh but made alive ein the spirit, 19 in which he went and aproclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, awhen God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, bwhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ceight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, anow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but bas an appeal to God for a good conscience, cthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and ais at the right hand of God, bwith angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.