1 Wives and Husbands In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if anyof themare disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear.
3 Your adornment must not bemerelyexternal—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments;
4 butlet it bethe hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, 3:6 Lit and are not not fearing any intimidation.
7 You husbands in the same way, live withyour wivesin an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 3:8Or Finally Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but 3:9 Lit blessing instead giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For,“The one who desires life,to love and see good days,Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the 3:12In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:15 Lord are toward the righteous,AndHis ears attend to their prayer,But the face of the 3:12In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:15 Lord is against those who do evil.”Suffering for Righteousness
13 And who is 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you there to 3:13 Or do evil against you, cf.3:9, 10, 11, 12 harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you 3:14Or would be are blessed. And do not fear their fear,and do not be troubled,
15 but 3:15 Set apart sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, alwaysbeingready to make 3:15 Or an argument, an explanation a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,
16 having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if 3:17Lit the will of God God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all,therighteous fortheunrighteous, so that He might bring you to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the 3:18 Or Spirit spirit;
19 in 3:19 Or whom which also He went and made proclamation to the spiritsnowin prison,
20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely throughthe 3:20The great flood water.
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal 3:21 Or for of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.