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Godly Living

^1 (C1)In the same way, you wives, ^(C2)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(C3)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,² as they observe your pure ^(F1)and respectful behavior.^3 (C1)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel;⁴ but it should be ^(C1)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.⁵ For in this way the holy women of former times, ^(C1)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(C1)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^(F1)(C2)without being frightened by any fear.

^7 (C1)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^(F1)(C2)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^8 (F1)To sum up, ^(C1)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^(F2)(C2)loving, ^(C3)compassionate, and ^(C4)humble;^9 (C1)not returning evil for evil or ^(C2)insult for insult, but giving a ^(C3)blessing instead; for ^(C4)you were called for the very purpose that you would ^(C5)inherit a blessing.¹⁰ For,

"^(C1)THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

¹¹ "^(C1)HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

¹² "^(C1)FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST EVILDOERS."

^13 (C1)And who is ^(F1)there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?¹⁴ But even if you should ^(C1)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(C2)you ^(F1)are blessed. ^(C3)AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR ^(F2)INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE IN DREAD,¹⁵ but ^(F1)sanctify ^(C1)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(C2)to make a ^(F2)defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(C1)hope that is in you, but ^(C3)with gentleness and ^(C4)respect;^16 (F1)and keep a ^(C1)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(C2)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.¹⁷ For ^(C1)it is better, ^(C2)if ^(F1)God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.¹⁸ For ^(C1)Christ also ^(F1)suffered for sins ^(C2)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(C3)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(C4)in the flesh, but made alive ^(C5)in the ^(F2)spirit;¹⁹ in ^(F1)which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison,²⁰ who once were disobedient when the ^(C1)patience of God ^(C2)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(C3)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(C4)eight ^(C5)persons, were brought safely through the water.^21 (C1)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(C2)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^(F1)for a ^(C3)good conscience—through ^(C4)the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^22 (C1)who is at the right hand of God, ^(C2)having gone into heaven, ^(C3)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.