Wives and Husbands

1In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 2when they see your pure and reverent conduct. 3Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – 4but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 6like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. 7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 10For

the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

11And he must turn away from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.

13For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 15But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

18Because Christ also suffered once for sins,

the just for the unjust,

to bring you to God,

by being put to death in the flesh

but by being made alive in the spirit.

19In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 21And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.