| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 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, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over |
| 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. | 2by observing your pure and reverent lives. |
| 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— | 3Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. |
| 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. | 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. |
| 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, | 5This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. | 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. Husbands |
| 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. | 7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. All Christians |
| 8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; | 8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. |
| 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. | 9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his 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 Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. |
| 11Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. | 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain 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.” | 12The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.” Suffering for Doing Good |
| 13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | 13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do 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 suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. |
| 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; | 15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. |
| 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. | 16But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. |
| 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. | 17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! |
| 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, | 18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. |
| 19by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, | 19So he went and preached 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. | 20those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. |
| 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, | 21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of 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. | 22Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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