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;

Wives, obey your own husbands. Some of your husbands may not obey the Word of God. By obeying your husbands, they may become Christians by the life you live without you saying anything.

2 b eholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear.

They will see how you love God and how your lives are pure.

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;

Do not let your beauty come from the outside. It should not be the way you comb your hair or the wearing of gold or the wearing of fine clothes.

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.

Your beauty should come from the inside. It should come from the heart. This is the kind that lasts. Your beauty should be a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it.

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

This was the kind of beauty seen in the holy women who lived many years ago. They put their hope in God. They also obeyed their 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.

Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham. She respected him as the head of the house. You are her children if you do what is right and do not have 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.

In the same way, husbands should understand and respect their wives, because women are weaker than men. Remember, both husband and wife are to share together the gift of life that lasts forever. If this is not done, you will find it hard to pray. Teaching for All Christians

8 F inally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:

Last of all, you must share the same thoughts and the same feelings. Love each other with a kind heart and with a mind that has no pride.

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.

When someone does something bad to you, do not do the same thing to him. When someone talks about you, do not talk about him. Instead, pray that good will come to him. You were called to do this so you might receive good things from God.

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 “If you want joy in your life and have happy days, keep your tongue from saying bad things and your lips from talking bad about others.

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

Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and go after 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.

The Lord watches over those who are right with Him. He hears their prayers. But the Lord is against those who sin.”

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

Who will hurt you if you do what is right?

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 suffer for doing what is right, you will be happy. Do not be afraid or troubled by what they may do to make it hard for you.

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:

Your heart should be holy and set apart for the Lord God. Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect.

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.

Keep your heart telling you that you have done what is right. If men speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see the good way you have lived as a Christian.

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

If God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong. Christ Suffered for Us

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;

Christ suffered and died for sins once for all. He never sinned and yet He died for us who have sinned. He died so He might bring us to God. His body died but His spirit was made alive.

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

Christ went and preached to the spirits 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:

Those were the spirits of the people who would not obey in the days of Noah. God waited a long time for them while Noah was building the big boat. But only eight people were saved from dying when the earth was covered with 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;

This is like baptism to us. Baptism does not mean we wash our bodies clean. It means we are saved from the punishment of sin and go to God in prayer with a heart that says we are right. This can be done because Christ was raised from the dead.

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

Christ has gone to heaven and is on the right side of God. Angels and powers of heaven are obeying Him.