1 Likewise, wives, *See Gen. 3:16be subject to your own husbands, so that *1 Cor. 7:16even if some do not obey the word, *Matt. 18:15;1 Cor. 9:19-22they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your *Titus 2:5respectful and pure conduct. 3 *1 Tim. 2:9;[Isa. 3:18-23]Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be *Rom. 2:29;[Rom. 7:22;2 Cor. 4:16;Eph. 3:16]the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, *Gen. 18:12calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and *Prov. 3:25do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, *Eph. 5:25;Col. 3:19husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker *See 1 Thess. 4:4vessel, since they are heirs with you*3:7 Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

8 Finally, all of you, *See Rom. 12:16have unity of mind, sympathy, *See Heb. 13:1brotherly love, *Eph. 4:32a tender heart, and *See Eph. 4:2a humble mind. 9 *ch. 2:23;See Rom. 12:17Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, *Luke 6:28;Rom. 12:14;1 Cor. 4:12bless, for *ch. 2:21to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

*Cited from Ps. 34:12-16"Whoever desires to 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 are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

13 Now *[Prov. 16:7]who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 *ch. 2:19,20;4:14,16;Matt. 5:10But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. *Isa. 8:12,13;[ver. 6; Matt. 10:28] Have no fear of them, *John 14:1,27nor be troubled, 15 but *[Isa. 29:23;Matt. 6:9] in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, *Col. 4:6;[2 Tim. 2:25] always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and *See ch. 1:17respect, 16 *Heb. 13:18having a good conscience, so that, *ch. 2:12when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For *ch. 2:20;[ch. 4:15,16]it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also *ch. 2:21;4:1;See Rom. 4:25suffered*3:18 Some manuscripts died*Heb. 9:26,28once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, *Rom. 5:2that he might bring us to God, being put to death *ch. 4:1;Col. 1:22;[2 Cor. 13:4] in the flesh but made alive *ch. 4:6in the spirit, 19 in which*3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom he went and *[See ver. 18above]proclaimed*3:19 Or preached to the spirits in prison, 20 because*3:20 Or when they formerly did not obey, *Gen. 6:3,5,13,14when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, *Heb. 11:7while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, *Gen. 7:1,7,23;8:18;2 Pet. 2:5eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, *Mark 16:16;Acts 16:33;Rom. 6:3-6;Titus 3:5now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but *[Rom. 10:10] as an appeal to God for a good conscience, *ch. 1:3through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and *Acts 2:33,34;Rom. 8:34;Eph. 1:20;Col. 3:1;Heb. 1:3is at the right hand of God, *Rom. 8:38;1 Cor. 15:24;Eph. 1:21with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.