A word to wives

1Similarly, ⁶²wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the Word, they may be won over, without a word, by the conduct of their wives

2(having watched your pure behavior accompanied by respect),

3whose adorning should not be the outward one of braiding hair and wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing, ⁶³

4but rather the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible adorning of the gentle and quiet spirit that is of great value before God.

5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God in former times also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him ‘lord’, whose (f) daughters you became ⁶⁴by doing good and not being afraid of any intimidation. ⁶⁵

A word to husbands

7Similarly, ⁶⁶husbands, live together knowledgeably as with a weaker vessel, ⁶⁷according honor to the wife especially as being a joint heir of the grace of life, ⁶⁸for your prayers not to be hindered. ⁶⁹

The golden rule

8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, ⁷⁰tenderhearted, courteous, ⁷¹

9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this so that you may inherit a blessing.

10For: “The one who wants to love life and to see good days must refrain his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;

11he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace, even pursue it.

12Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those doing evil.” ⁷²

Better to suffer than to sin

13Now who is he who will harm you if you become imitators of the good? ⁷³

14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” ⁷⁴

15Rather, sanctify the Lord God ⁷⁵in your hearts, and always be ready with an answer for everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness ⁷⁶and respect;

16keeping a good conscience, so that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, ⁷⁷those who revile your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame. ⁷⁸

17For it is better to suffer for doing good, should the will of God so determine, than for doing evil.

Follow Christ's example to victory

18Because Christ also suffered on account of sins, once for all, ⁷⁹the righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God; having been put to death, to be sure, in flesh, but having been made alive in spirit;

19in which He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison ⁸⁰

20who formerly were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, while the Ark was being prepared, ⁸¹in which a few, that is eight, souls were brought safely through water.

21This is an antitype ⁸²of baptism, that now saves us also (not the removal of physical filth, but the appeal into God from a good conscience) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. ⁸³