^aIn the same way, you wives, ^bbe ¹submissive to your own husbands subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them so that even if some do not obey the word of God, they may be ^cwon over to Christ without discussion by the godly lives of their wives, Eph 5:22 2 when they see your modest and respectful behavior together with your devotion and appreciation—love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God. 3 ^aYour adornment must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or being superficially preoccupied with dressing in expensive clothes; 4 but let it be the inner beauty of ^athe hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women, ^awho hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands and adapting themselves to them; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham following him and having regard for him as head of their house, ^acalling him ¹lord. And you have become her daughters if you do what is right ^bwithout being frightened by any fear that is, being respectful toward your husband but not giving in to intimidation, nor allowing yourself to be led into sin, nor to be harmed.

7 In the same way, ^ayou husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship, as with ^1bsomeone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.

8 Finally, ^aall of you be like-minded united in spirit, sympathetic, ^bbrotherly, ^ckindhearted courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household, and ^dhumble in spirit; 9 ^aand never return evil for evil or ^binsult for insult avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse, but on the contrary, give a ^cblessing pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection; for ^dyou have been called for this very purpose, that you might ^einherit a blessing from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection. 10 For,“^aTHE ONE WHO WANTS TO ENJOY LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS good—whether apparent or not,MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FREE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE (treachery, deceit) .

13 Now ^awho is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good? 14 But even if you should ^asuffer for the sake of righteousness though it is not certain that you will, ^byou are still blessed happy, to be admired and favored by God. ^cDO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR INTIMIDATING THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED or DISTURBED by their opposition. 15 But in your hearts set ^aChrist apart as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives as Lord. Always be ready ^bto give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the ^chope and confident assurance elicited by faith that is within you, yet do it ^dwith gentleness and ^erespect. Is 8:12, 13 16 And see to it that your ^aconscience is entirely clear, so that every time ^byou are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed by their own words. 17 For ^ait is better that you suffer unjustly for doing what is right, ^bif that should be God’s will, than to suffer justly for doing wrong. 18 For indeed ^aChrist died for sins ^bonce for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous the Innocent for the guilty so that He might ^cbring us to God, having been put to death ^din the flesh, but made alive ^ein the Spirit; 19 in which He also went and preached to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the great ^apatience of God was ^bwaiting in the days of Noah, during the building of ^cthe ark, in which a few, that is, ^deight ^epersons Noah’s family, were brought safely through the water. Gen 6-8 21 ^aCorresponding to that rescue through the flood, baptism which is an expression of a believer’s new life in Christ now ¹saves you, ^bnot by removing dirt from the body, but by an appeal to God for a ^cgood (clear) conscience, demonstrating what you believe to be yours through ^dthe resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 ^awho has gone into heaven and ^bis at the right hand of God that is, the place of honor and authority, ^cwith all angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him.

^aIn the same way, you wives, ^bbe subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^cwon over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure ¹and respectful behavior. 3 ^aYour adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be ^athe 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, ^awho hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^acalling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^1bwithout being frightened by any fear.

7 ^aYou husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^1bsomeone 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 ¹To sum up, ^aall of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^2bloving, ^ccompassionate, and ^dhumble; 9 ^anot returning evil for evil or ^binsult for insult, but giving a ^cblessing instead; for ^dyou were called for the very purpose that you would ^einherit a blessing. 10 For,“^aTHE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

13 ^aAnd who is ¹there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should ^asuffer for the sake of righteousness, ^byou ¹are blessed. ^cAND DO NOT FEAR THEIR ²INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE IN DREAD, 15 but ¹sanctify ^aChrist as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^bto make a ²defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^chope that is in you, but ^dwith gentleness and ^erespect; 16 ¹and keep a ^agood conscience so that in the thing in which ^byou are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For ^ait is better, ^bif ¹God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For ^aChrist also ¹suffered for sins ^bonce for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^cbring us to God, having been put to death ^din the flesh, but made alive ^ein the ²spirit; 19 in ¹which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the ^apatience of God ^bkept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^cthe ark, in which a few, that is, ^deight ^epersons, were brought safely through the water. 21 ^aCorresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^bnot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ¹for a ^cgood conscience—through ^dthe resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 ^awho is at the right hand of God, ^bhaving gone into heaven, ^cafter angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.