Godly Living

3 ^(A)In the same way, you wives, ^(B)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(C)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, ² as they observe your pure ^[a]and respectful behavior. ^3 (D)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; ⁴ but it should be ^(E)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, ^(F)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(G)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^[b](H)without being frightened by any fear.

^7 (I)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^[c](J)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 [d]To sum up, ^(K)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^[e](L)loving, ^(M)compassionate, and ^(N)humble; ^9 (O)not returning evil for evil or ^(P)insult for insult, but giving a ^(Q)blessing instead; for ^(R)you were called for the very purpose that you would ^(S)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

^13 (W)And who is ^[f]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(X)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(Y)you ^[g]are blessed. ^(Z)And do not fear their ^[h]intimidation, and do not be in dread, ¹⁵ but ^[i]sanctify ^(AA)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(AB)to make a ^[j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(AC)hope that is in you, but ^(AD)with gentleness and ^(AE)respect; ^16 [k]and keep a ^(AF)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(AG)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(AH)it is better, ^(AI)if ^[l]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(AJ)Christ also ^[m]suffered for sins ^(AK)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(AL)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(AM)in the flesh, but made alive ^(AN)in the ^[n]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[o]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient when the ^(AO)patience of God ^(AP)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(AQ)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(AR)eight ^(AS)persons, were brought safely through the water. ^21 (AT)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(AU)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[p]for a ^(AV)good conscience—through ^(AW)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AX)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AY)having gone into heaven, ^(AZ)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.