1 In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so
that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of
their wives without a word; 2 seeing your pure behavior in fear. 3 Let
your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of
wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; 4 but in the
hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. 5 For this is
how the holy women before, who hoped in God, also adorned themselves, being
in subjection to their own husbands: 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling
him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not
put in fear by any terror.
7 You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to
knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also
joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers,
tenderhearted, courteous, 9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for
reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called,
that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“He who would love life,
And see good days,
Let him keep his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good.
Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And his ears open to their prayer;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that
which is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’
sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give
an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in
you, with humility and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, while
you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who revile
your good manner of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of
God should so will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the
unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh,
but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he also went and preached to the
spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient, when God waited
patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few,
that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 This is a symbol of
baptism, which now saves you - not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having
gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to
him.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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