1 IN like manner, ye wives, being in subjection to your own husbands; that even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the deportment of their wives,
2 when they behold your chaste deportment coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning, let it not be the outward one of braiding the hair, and of wearing golden ornaments, or of putting on apparel;
4 but the hidden man of the heart, in that which is imperishable of the meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price.
5 For so in the old time the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands,
6 (as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; of whom ye became children,) doing good, and fearing no alarm.
7 Ye husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the female, as the weaker vessel, as also heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
8 Finally, all being of one mind, sympathizing, loving the brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded;
9 not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary blessing, because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit blessing.
10 For he who desires to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;
11 let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.
12 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are toward their supplications; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
13 And who is he that shall harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?
14 But if ye even suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; but fear not with their fear, nor be troubled;
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always to give an answer to every one that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ.
17 For it is better, if it be the will of God, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing.
18 Because 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;
19 in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who were disobedient in times past, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water;
21 which in an antitype, immersion, now saves us also (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
22 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
