| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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 | 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 observe your pure, reverent lives. | 2when they see your pure and reverent conduct. |
| 3Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. | 3Let your beauty not be external--the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes-- |
| 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. | 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 past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, | 5For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, |
| 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. | 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, 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. | 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. |
| 8Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, | 8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. |
| 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. | 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 to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, | 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 what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it, | 11And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? | 13For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 that should be God's will, than for doing evil. | 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. |
| 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. | 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 that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison | 19In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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, |
| 22Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. | 22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him. |
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