1 Peter, 3

1. Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct

1. In the same way, you wives should be obedient to your husbands. Then if there are some husbands who do not believe the Word, they may find themselves won over, without a word spoken, by the way their wives behave,

2. when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior.

2. when they see the reverence and purity of your way of life.

3. Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes,

3. Your adornment should be not an exterior one, consisting of braided hair or gold jewellery or fine clothing,

4. but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God.

4. but the interior disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and peaceful spirit, so precious in the sight of God.

5. For this is also how the holy women who hoped in God once used to adorn themselves and were subordinate to their husbands;

5. That was how the holy women of the past dressed themselves attractively -- they hoped in God and were submissive to their husbands;

6. thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him "lord." You are her children when you do what is good and fear no intimidation.

6. like Sarah, who was obedient to Abraham, and called him her lord. You are now her children, as long as you live good lives free from fear and worry.

7. Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

7. In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the generous gift of life. This will prevent anything from coming in the way of your prayers.

8. Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble.

8. Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing.

9. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.

9. Never repay one wrong with another, or one abusive word with another; instead, repay with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing.

10. For: "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit,

10. For Who among you delights in life, longs for time to enjoy prosperity? Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit.

11. must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it.

11. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

12. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers."

12. For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, his ear turned to their cry. But the Lord's face is set against those who do evil.

13. Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good?

13. No one can hurt you if you are determined to do only what is right;

14. But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them,

14. and blessed are you if you have to suffer for being upright. Have no dread of them; have no fear.

15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,

15. Simply proclaim the Lord Christ holy in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you have.

16. but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.

16. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience, so that those who slander your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their accusations.

17. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.

17. And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.

18. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.

18. Christ himself died once and for all for sins, the upright for the sake of the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life,

19. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,

19. and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison.

20. who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water.

20. They refused to believe long ago, while God patiently waited to receive them, in Noah's time when the ark was being built. In it only a few, that is eight souls, were saved through water.

21. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

21. It is the baptism corresponding to this water which saves you now -- not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience given to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22. who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

22. who has entered heaven and is at God's right hand, with angels, ruling forces and powers subject to him.