[1] In like manner, ye wives, bein subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;
[2] beholding your chaste behaviorcoupledwith fear.
[3] Whoseadorninglet it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;
[4] but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
[5] For after this manner aforetime 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: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
[7] Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell withyour wivesaccording to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.
[8] Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:
[9] not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
[10] For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:
[11] And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
[12] For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.
[13] And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?
[14] But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
[15] but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
[16] having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.
[17] For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
[18] Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
[19] in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,
[20] that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:
[21] which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through 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 unto him.