1 Peter

3 Likewise, wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word they shall through their wives’ life be won without words 2 when they watch your pure life lived in fear. 3 And be yours not the outward adornment of plaiting hair and wearing jewels or putting on dresses, 4 but the secret person of the heart in the imperishable adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is worth a fortune before God. 5 For so in former times did the holy women who hoped in God adorn themselves, submitting to their husbands, 6* as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him “lord”; whose children you have become when you do right and fear no terror. 7 Husbands likewise, live intelligently with womankind as a weaker thing, according them honor as co-heirs in the grace of life, so as not to have your prayers hindered. 8 And finally, all be united, sympathizing, brother-loving, kindly, humble, 9** not paying back hurt for hurt or abuse for abuse, but contrariwise blessing everybody; because this is what you were called for, that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For “he who would love life and see good days, let him stop his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and let him shun evil and do the good, seek peace and pursue it; 12 because the Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous and his ears are toward their petition, but the Lord’s face is against the doers of evil.” 13 And who is it that will harm you if you show yourselves zealous for good?

14 But if you do suffer for right-doing, happy are you; and do not stand in fear of them, nor be agitated, 15 but “magnify in your hearts the holiness of the Lord” (Christ), always ready to make your defense to anyone who asks you to give an account of the hope you have in you, but with meekness and fear, 16 keeping a good conscience, that where you are decried those who are spiteful toward your good life in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God’s will will have it so, to suffer in doing right than in doing wrong; 18* because so did Christ suffer for sins once, a saint for guilty men, to bring you to God, being put to death in flesh, but given life in spirit 19 while he went and preached to the spirits in prison too, 20 that had once disobeyed when in Noah’s days God’s patience was waiting while an ark was being constructed, into which a few, that is eight souls, came safe through water— 21* what in the antitype is now saving you too, baptism, not flesh’s taking off grime but a good conscience’s inquiry after God, saving you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at God’s right hand, gone to heaven, with angels and authorities and powers put under his control.