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Wives and Husbands

¹ Likewise, wives, ^(a)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(b)even if some do not obey the word, ^(c)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your ^(d)respectful and pure conduct. ^3 (e)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be ^(f)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(g)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(h)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷ Likewise, ⁽ⁱ⁾husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(j)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(k)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(l)brotherly love, ^(m)a tender heart, and ⁽ⁿ⁾a humble mind. ^9 (o)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(p)bless, for ^(q)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(s)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (t)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(u)Have no fear of them, ^(v)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(w)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(x)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 ^(y)respect, ^16 (z)having a good conscience, so that, ^(aa)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(ab)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(ac)suffered^{[b] (ad)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(ae)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(af)in the flesh but made alive ^(ag)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[c] he went and ^(ah)proclaimed^[d] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[e] they formerly did not obey, ^(ai)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(aj)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(ak)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(al)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(am)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(an)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(ao)is at the right hand of God, ^(ap)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.