3 I need to speak to you wives. You should each respect the authority of your own husband. Even if your husband does not believe God's message about Jesus Christ, you should still respect him. If you do that, he may then turn to God and believe his message. You will not need to tell him what is true. He will see the good way that you live. 2 He will see that you obey God and that you do things that are completely good.
3 Think about what makes you beautiful. The way that you prepare your hair does not really make you beautiful. Gold things or beautiful clothes do not make you beautiful. 4 Do not just think about your body, but think about what you are really like inside yourself. Be patient and do not become angry easily. Then you will always continue to be beautiful. If you are beautiful in your spirit, God likes that very much. 5 That was how holy women made themselves beautiful many years ago. They trusted God that he would help them. They respected the authority of their husbands. 6 Sarah was a woman like that. She obeyed her husband, Abraham. She called him, ‘My master’. So you wives also should do what is right. Do not let anything make you afraid. Then you will be like true daughters of Sarah. [ a ]
7 You husbands must also respect your wives. Be kind to your wife and help her. Remember that she is not as strong as you are. Because God is very kind, she has received his gift of true life, as you have. So you should respect her. Then God will answer you when you pray to him.
8 Now I want to say this to you before I finish my letter. All of you should agree with each other in what you think. You should try to understand how other people are feeling. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be kind to each other. Do not think that you are more important than other people. 9 If people do bad things to you, do not do anything bad to them in return. If people insult you, do not insult them in return. Instead, pray that God will bless those people. That is what God wants you to do. Then you will receive the gift of God's blessing. 10 The Bible says this:
‘Do you want to enjoy your life?
Do you want to be happy?
Then you must be careful not to say evil things.
Do not tell any lies.
11 Stop doing evil things.
Instead, do things that are good.
Try to be friends with people.
Help people to live in peace with each other.
12 Remember that the Lord God sees what everyone does.
He takes care of people who do what is right.
When they pray, he listens to them.
But the Lord God turns against people who do evil things.’ [ b ]
13 If you always try to do good things, then nobody should hurt you. 14 But somebody might give you trouble, even when you do what is right. If that happens, God will bless you. So do not be afraid of what people may do to you. Do not worry about it. 15 Instead, always remember that Christ is your Lord. Let him rule how you live. People may ask you, ‘Why do you trust God to help you?’ You must always be ready to answer them about that. 16 But when you tell them, be kind and polite. Do only what you know is right. Then those people will see that you live in a good way because you believe in Christ. When they say bad things against you they will become ashamed. 17 Sometimes God may let you have trouble and pain even when you have done good things. But that is better than if you have trouble and pain because you have done bad things.
18 Christ himself always did what was right. But he received pain on behalf of people who do what is wrong. He died once to take away all those wrong things. He did that to bring you near to God. People killed Christ's body, but God's Spirit made him alive again. 19 Like this, he went to the spirits who were in prison. He told them God's true message. 20 Those were the spirits of people who had refused to obey God long ago. At that time God waited patiently for them to turn to him while Noah was building a large ship. But only a few people agreed to go into that ship. God saved only eight people when the ship sailed on the deep water. [ c ] 21 That shows how God now saves you. It is like a picture of baptism. The water of baptism does not wash dirt from a person's body. Instead, it shows that a person has decided to obey God. He is choosing to do what is right. That saves you, because Jesus Christ became alive again after his death. 22 After that, Jesus went into heaven. Now he is sitting at God's right side. He rules over angels and over everything that has authority and power. [ d ]
3 In the same way, you wives should be willing to serve your husbands. Then, even those who have refused to accept God’s teaching will be persuaded to believe because of the way you live. You will not need to say anything. 2 Your husbands will see the pure lives that you live with respect for God. 3 It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. 4 No, your beauty should come from inside you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God.
5 It was the same with the holy women who lived long ago and followed God. They made themselves beautiful in that same way. They were willing to serve their husbands. 6 I am talking about women like Sarah. She obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.
7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. You should show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace of true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers from being heard.
8 So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. 9 Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing. 10 The Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy true life
and have only good days,
then avoid saying anything hurtful,
and never let a lie come out of your mouth.
11 Stop doing what is wrong, and do good.
Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.
12 The Lord watches over those who do what is right,
and he listens to their prayers.
But he is against those who do evil.” ( A )
13 If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you. 14 But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God’s blessing. “Don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried.” [ a ] 15 But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. 16 But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said.
17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants.
18 Christ himself suffered when he died for you,
and with that one death he paid for your sins.
He was not guilty,
but he died for people who are guilty.
He did this to bring all of you to God.
In his physical form he was killed,
but he was made alive by the Spirit. [ b ]
19 And by the Spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison. 20 Those were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for people while Noah was building the big boat. And only a few—eight in all—were saved in the boat through the floodwater. 21 And that water is like baptism, which now saves you. Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body. It is asking God for a clean conscience. It saves you because Jesus Christ was raised from death. 22 Now he has gone into heaven. He is at God’s right side and rules over angels, authorities, and powers.
3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
3 ( A ) In the same way, you wives, ( B ) be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ( C ) won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure [ a ] and respectful behavior. 3 ( D ) Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry , or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be ( E ) the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way the holy women of former times, ( F ) who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ( G ) calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right [ b ] ( H ) without being frightened by any fear.
7 ( I ) You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with [ c ] ( J ) someone weaker, 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 [ d ] To sum up, ( K ) all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [ e ] ( L ) loving, ( M ) compassionate, and ( N ) humble; 9 ( O ) not returning evil for evil or ( P ) insult for insult, but giving a ( Q ) blessing instead; for ( R ) you were called for the very purpose that you would ( S ) inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“ ( T ) The one who desires life, to love and see good days ,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit .
11 ( U ) He must turn away from evil and do good ;
He must seek peace and pursue it .
12 ( V ) For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous ,
And His ears attend to their prayer ,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers .”
13 ( W ) And who is [ f ] there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should ( X ) suffer for the sake of righteousness, ( Y ) you [ g ] are blessed. ( Z ) And do not fear their [ h ] intimidation, and do not be in dread , 15 but [ i ] sanctify ( AA ) Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ( AB ) to make a [ j ] defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ( AC ) hope that is in you, but ( AD ) with gentleness and ( AE ) respect; 16 [ k ] and keep a ( AF ) good conscience so that in the thing in which ( AG ) you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For ( AH ) it is better, ( AI ) if [ l ] God should will it so , that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For ( AJ ) Christ also [ m ] suffered for sins ( AK ) once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ( AL ) bring us to God, having been put to death ( AM ) in the flesh, but made alive ( AN ) in the [ n ] spirit; 19 in [ o ] which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the ( AO ) patience of God ( AP ) kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ( AQ ) the ark, in which a few, that is, ( AR ) eight ( AS ) persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 ( AT ) Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you— ( AU ) not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [ p ] for a ( AV ) good conscience—through ( AW ) the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 ( AX ) who is at the right hand of God, ( AY ) having gone into heaven, ( AZ ) after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves ( A ) to your own husbands ( B ) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over ( C ) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ( D ) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, ( E ) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ( F ) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God ( G ) used to adorn themselves. ( H ) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. ( I ) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, ( J ) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, ( K ) be sympathetic, love one another, ( L ) be compassionate and humble. ( M ) 9 Do not repay evil with evil ( N ) or insult with insult. ( O ) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, ( P ) because to this ( Q ) you were called ( R ) so that you may inherit a blessing. ( S ) 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [ a ] ( T )
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ( U ) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ( V ) “Do not fear their threats [ b ] ; do not be frightened.” [ c ] ( W ) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer ( X ) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope ( Y ) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, ( Z ) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ( AA ) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, ( AB ) to suffer for doing good ( AC ) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once ( AD ) for sins, ( AE ) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ( AF ) He was put to death in the body ( AG ) but made alive in the Spirit. ( AH ) 19 After being made alive, [ d ] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits ( AI ) — 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently ( AJ ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. ( AK ) In it only a few people, eight in all, ( AL ) were saved ( AM ) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you ( AN ) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience ( AO ) toward God. [ e ] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ( AP ) 22 who has gone into heaven ( AQ ) and is at God’s right hand ( AR ) —with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. ( AS )
