| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, | 1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live |
| 2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. | 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. |
| 3Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— | 3Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. |
| 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. | 4Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. |
| 5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, | 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. | 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. |
| 7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. | 7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. |
| 8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. | 8Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, |
| 9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. | 9not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. |
| 10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; | 10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, |
| 11let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. | 11and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it, |
| 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” | 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. |
| 13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? | 13And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, | 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, |
| 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, | 15but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. |
| 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. | 16However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. |
| 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. | 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. |
| 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, 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, | 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. |
| 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, | 19In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison |
| 20because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. | 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water. |
| 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. | 22Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. |
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