3:1 | In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then,* even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,* |
3:2 | when they see your pure and reverent conduct.* |
3:3 | Let your* beauty* not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry* or fine clothes – |
3:4 | but the inner person* of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. |
3:5 | For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, |
3:6 | like Sarah who obeyed* Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children* when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.* |
3:7 | Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners* and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.* |
3:8 | Finally, all of you be harmonious,* sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. |
3:9 | Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless* others* because you were called to inherit a blessing. |
3:10 | For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep* his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. |
3:11 | And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. |
3:12 | For the eyes of the Lord are* upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.* |
3:13 | For* who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? |
3:14 | But in fact, if you happen to suffer* for doing what is right,* you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them* or be shaken.* |
3:15 | But set Christ* apart* as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.* |
3:16 | Yet do it with courtesy and respect,* keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.* |
3:17 | For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it,* than for doing evil. |
3:18 | *Because Christ also suffered* once for sins, the just for the unjust,* to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but* by being made alive in the spirit.* |
3:19 | In it* he went and preached to the spirits in prison,* |
3:20 | after they were disobedient long ago* when God patiently waited* in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark* a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. |
3:21 | And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you* – not the washing off of physical dirt* but the pledge* of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
3:22 | who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God* with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.* |