| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, | 1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; |
| 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. | 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. |
| 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— | 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; |
| 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. | 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. |
| 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, | 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: |
| 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. | 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. |
| 7Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. | 7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. |
| 8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; | 8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: |
| 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. | 9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. |
| 10For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. | 10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: |
| 11Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. | 11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. |
| 12For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” | 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. |
| 13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | 13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” | 14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; |
| 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; | 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: |
| 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. | 16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. |
| 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. | 17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. |
| 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, | 18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: |
| 19by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, | 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; |
| 20who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. | 20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. |
| 21There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, | 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: |
| 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. | 22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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