1 I n 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,

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;

2 a s they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

seeing your pure behavior in fear.

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

Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing;

4 b ut 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.

but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

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

For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6 j ust 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.

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

7 Y ou 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.

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

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

Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender hearted, courteous,

9 n ot 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.

not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

10 F or, “ The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

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

Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12 “ 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.”

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 W ho is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

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

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

15 b ut 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;

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:

16 a nd 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.

having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

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

For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

18 F or 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;

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

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

in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 w ho 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.

who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21 C orresponding 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,

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.