Wives and Husbands
(Ephesians 5:22–33)

1In like manner, ye wives, be subject to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may, without the word, be gained through the conduct of their wives, 2having beheld your chaste conduct mingled with fear: 3whose adorning, let it not be the outward one of braiding of hair and of wearing of golden ornaments, or of putting on apparel; 4but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. 5For thus, in former times, the holy women also, who hoped in God, were wont to adorn themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands; 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom ye became children; if ye do good, and fear no alarm.

7Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with them according to knowledge, assigning honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

Turning from Evil

8And, finally, be ye all of one mind, compassionate, loving as brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded; 9not returning evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but, on the contrary, blessing; because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit a blessing.

10For, "He who wishes to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile;

11and let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it;

12because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are toward their supplication; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

13And who is he that will harm you, if ye become zealous for that which is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14But, if ye should even suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. But fear not their fear, neither be troubled; 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always for an answer to every one who asks of you an account concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear; 16having a good conscience; that, in whatever ye are spoken against, those who revile your good conduct may be put to shame. 17For it is better, if the will of God should will it, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing; 18because Christ also suffered for sins once, a Righteous One in behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19in Whom, also, going, He preached to the spirits in prison, 20who were once disobedient, when the long-suffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, while an ark was being prepared, entering into which, a few, that is, eight, souls were saved through water; 21which, in its anti-type, immersion, now saves you also (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22Who is on the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.