| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, | 1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live |
| 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. | 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. |
| 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. | 3Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. |
| 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. | 4Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. |
| 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, | 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, |
| 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. | 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. |
| 7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. | 7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. |
| 8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. | 8Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, |
| 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. | 9not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. |
| 10For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. | 10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, |
| 11They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. | 11and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it, |
| 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." | 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. |
| 13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? | 13And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." | 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, |
| 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, | 15but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. |
| 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. | 16However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. |
| 17For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. | 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. |
| 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. | 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. |
| 19After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits-- | 19In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison |
| 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, | 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water. |
| 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. | 22Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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