Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives 2when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Turning from Evil

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and courteous.a 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, knowing thatb to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

11He must turn from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are inclined to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against

those who do evil.”c

13Who can harm you if you are imitators ofd what is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”e 15But in your hearts sanctify the God Lord.f Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you as evildoersg may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18For Christ also sufferedh for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring youi to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whomj He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves us alsok —not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge ofl a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.