3
1 In
the same way,
wives, be in
subjection to your
own husbands, so
that, even if
any don’t obey
the Word, they
may be won
by the behavior of
their wives
without a word,
2 seeing
your pure behavior in
fear.
3 Let
your beauty come
not from the
outward adorning
of braiding your
hair, and of
wearing gold ornaments
or of putting
on fine clothing,
4 but
from the hidden
person of the
heart, in
the incorruptible adornment of
a gentle and
quiet spirit,
which is very
precious in God’s
sight.
5 For
this is how
in the past
the holy women who
hoped in God
also adorned
themselves, being
in subjection to
their own husbands.
6 So
Sarah obeyed Abraham,
calling him lord,
whose children you
now are if
you do well
and are not
put in fear
by any terror.
7 You husbands,
in the same
way, live with
your wives
according to
knowledge, giving honor
to the woman
as to the weaker
vessel, as also
being joint heirs
of the grace
of life, that
your prayers may
not be hindered.
8 Finally,
all of you
be like-minded, compassionate,
loving as brothers, tenderhearted,
courteous,
9 not rendering
evil for evil
or insult for
insult; but
instead blessing, knowing
that you were
called to this,
that you may
inherit a blessing.
10 For,
“He who would
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 open
to their prayer;
but the face
of the Lord
is against those
who do evil.”
13 Now
who will harm
you if you
become imitators of
that which is
good?
14 But
even if you
should suffer for
righteousness’ sake,
you are blessed.
“Don’t fear what
they fear, neither
be troubled.”
15 But sanctify
the Lord God
in your hearts.
Always be ready
to give an
answer to everyone
who asks you a
reason concerning
the hope that
is in you,
with humility and
fear,
16 having
a good conscience.
Thus, while you
are spoken against
as evildoers, they
may be
disappointed who
curse your good
way of life in
Christ.
17 For
it is better,
if it is
God’s will, that
you suffer for
doing what is right
than for doing
evil.
18 Because
Christ also suffered
for sins once, the
righteous for
the unrighteous, that
he might bring
you to God,
being put to
death in the
flesh, but made
alive in the
Spirit,
19 in
whom he also
went and preached
to the spirits
in prison,
20 who
before were disobedient
when God waited
patiently in the
days of Noah
while the ship was
being built. In
it, few, that
is, eight souls,
were saved through
water.
21 This
is a symbol
of baptism, which
now saves you—not
the putting away
of the filth
of the flesh,
but the answer
of a good
conscience toward
God—through
the resurrection of
Jesus Christ,
22 who
is at the
right hand of
God, having gone
into heaven, angels
and authorities
and powers being
made subject to
him.