1 I n like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your won husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

2 b eholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear.

as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

3 W hose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

4 b ut let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

but let it be 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 F or after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

6 a s Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

7 Y e husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with 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 F inally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

9 n ot rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

10 F or, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

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 A nd let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

“ He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.

12 F or the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.

“ 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 those who do evil.”

13 A nd who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

14 B ut even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,

15 b ut sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

16 h aving a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

17 F or it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

18 B ecause Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

19 i n which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,

in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

20 t hat aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

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 through the water.

21 w hich also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you— not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 w ho is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.