1 I n like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any do not obey the Word, they may be won over not by discussion but by the lives of their wives,

In like manner, the wives, be ye subject to your own husbands, that even if certain are disobedient to the word, through the conversation of the wives, without the word, they may be won,

2 W hen they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence.

having beheld your pure behaviour in fear,

3 L et not yours be the external adorning with interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;

whose adorning -- let it not be that which is outward, of plaiting of hair, and of putting around of things of gold, or of putting on of garments,

4 B ut let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

but -- the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible thing of the meek and quiet spirit, which is, before God, of great price,

5 F or it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands.

for thus once also the holy women who did hope on God, were adorning themselves, being subject to their own husbands,

6 I t was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you.

as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him `sir,' of whom ye did become daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.

7 I n the same way you married men should live considerately with, with an intelligent recognition, honoring the woman as the weaker, but are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off.

The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with, according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel -- to the wife -- imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

8 F inally, all should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing, loving as brethren, compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).

And finally, being all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brethren, compassionate, courteous,

9 N ever return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing.

not giving back evil for evil, or railing for railing, and on the contrary, blessing, having known that to this ye were called, that a blessing ye may inherit;

10 F or let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).

for `he who is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips -- not to speak guile;

11 L et him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly.

let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;

12 F or the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.

because the eyes of the Lord upon the righteous, and His ears -- to their supplication, and the face of the Lord upon those doing evil;'

13 N ow who is there to hurt you if you are zealous followers of that which is good?

and who he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators?

14 B ut even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed.

but if ye also should suffer because of righteousness, happy! and of their fear be not afraid, nor be troubled,

15 B ut in your hearts set Christ apart as holy as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that in you, with meekness and fear;

16 y our conscience is entirely clear ( unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed.

having a good conscience, that in that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ;

17 F or better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing wrong.

for better doing good, if the will of God will it, to suffer, than doing evil;

18 F or Christ died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,

because also Christ once for sin did suffer -- righteous for unrighteous -- that he might lead us to God, having been put to death indeed, in the flesh, and having been made alive in the spirit,

19 I n which He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

in which also to the spirits in prison having gone he did preach,

20 w ho long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God’s patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few, actually eight in number, were saved through water.

who sometime disbelieved, when once the long-suffering of God did wait, in days of Noah -- an ark being preparing -- in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water;

21 A nd baptism, which is a figure, does now also save you, not by the removing of outward body filth, but by the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

also to which an antitype doth now save us -- baptism, (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God,) through the rising again of Jesus Christ,

22 h as now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him.

who is at the right hand of God, having gone on to heaven -- messengers, and authorities, and powers, having been subjected to him.