3 1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure and reverent lives. 3 Do not let your beauty be the outward kind — braided hair, gold jewelry, fine clothing 4 —but let it be the hidden person of the heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in our Father's sight. 5 For this is how the holy women of old who put their hope in our Father adorned themselves — by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you have become her children if you do good and do not give way to any fear.
7 In the same way, husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives, showing honor to the woman as the more delicate one and as fellow heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
A Family That Blesses
8 Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving one another as family, tenderhearted, and humble. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary, give a blessing, because this is what you were called to do, so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever desires to love life and to 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 our Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of our Lord is against those who do evil.
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ as the holy Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope you have, yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who speak evil of your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if it should be our Father's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to our Father. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, a a v18 Christ suffered not to leave us at a distance but to bring us all the way home to our Father — this is the gospel's destination. 19 in which he also went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, b b v19 The identity of 'the spirits in prison' is debated; most likely fallen spiritual beings from the time of Noah. 20 those who formerly did not obey, when our Father waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few — that is, eight people — were brought safely through the water. 21 And baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to our Father for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of our Father, with angels, authorities, and powers now subject to him.