| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, | 1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live |
| 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. | 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. |
| 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— | 3Don't let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry, |
| 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. | 4but rather what is inside the heart--the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. |
| 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, | 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. | 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation. |
| 7Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. | 7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. |
| 8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; | 8Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, |
| 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit 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 may inherit a blessing. |
| 10For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. | 10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him 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 let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, |
| 12For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; 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 prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. |
| 13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | 13Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” | 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated, |
| 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; | 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. |
| 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. | 16Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. |
| 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good 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 just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, | 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, |
| 19by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, | 19in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison |
| 20who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. | 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water. |
| 21There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, 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, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. | 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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