| Chapter 3 |
1 | In like manner, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your won 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 behavior [coupled] with fear. |
3 | Whose [adorning] let 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 with [your wives] according 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 one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. |