Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33)

1Likewise wives, be subject to the own husbands so that, even if any are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without word by the conduct of the wives, 2having witnessed your respectful, pure conduct, 3whose adorning let not be the external, of braiding of hair and putting around of gold, or putting on of garments, 4but the hidden man of the heart, in the imperishable of the gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth before God.

5For in this way formerly, the holy women also hoping in God used to adorn themselves, being subject to the own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom you have become children, doing good and not fearing any consternation.

7Husbands do likewise, dwelling with them according to knowledge, as with a weaker vessel, with the female, rendering honor as joint-heirs also of the grace of life, so as for your prayers not to be hindered.

Turning from Evil

8Now the end: All be single-minded, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tender-hearted, humble, 9not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult; but on the contrary blessing, because to this you were called, so that you should inherit blessing. 10For,

“The one desiring to love life,

and to see good days,

let him keep the tongue from evil,

and lips not to speak deceit.

11Also let him turn away from evil, and let him do good.

Let him seek peace and let him pursue it.

12Because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears toward their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those doing evil.”a

13And who is he who will harm you, if you should be zealous for that which is good?

Suffering for Righteousness
(Romans 6:15-23)

14But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. “And you should not be afraid of their threats,b neither should you be troubled.”c 15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord, always ready for a defense to everyone asking you an account concerning the hope in you; yet with gentleness and fear, 16having a good conscience, so that in the case that they might speak against you, those reviling your good manner of life in Christ, they shall be ashamed.

17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if the will of God wills it, than doing evil, 18because Christ also sufferedd once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might bring you to God, having been put to death indeed in the flesh, but having been made alive in the spirit, 19in which also having gone, He preached to the spirits in prison 20at one time having disobeyed, when the longsuffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, of the ark being prepared, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were saved through water, 21which also prefigures the baptism now saving you, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to Him.