1Pe 3 | ESV | STEP | Likewise , wives , be subject to your own husbands , so that even if some do not obey the word , they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives ,

1 Likewise, wives, ^abe subject to your own husbands, so that ^beven if some do not obey the word, ^cthey may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your ^drespectful and pure conduct. 3 ^eDo not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be ^fthe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^gcalling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^hdo not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, ⁱhusbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^jvessel, since they are heirs with you ^{▼▼Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs} of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

8 Finally, all of you, ^lhave unity of mind, sympathy, ^mbrotherly love, ⁿa tender heart, and ^oa humble mind. 9 ^pDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^qbless, for ^rto this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

^s“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now ^twho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 ^uBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. ^vHave no fear of them, ^wnor be troubled, 15 but ^xin your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^yalways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^zrespect, 16 ^aahaving a good conscience, so that, ^abwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For ^acit is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also ^adsuffered ^{▼▼Some manuscripts died} ^afonce for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^agthat he might bring us to God, being put to death ^ahin the flesh but made alive ^aiin the spirit, 19 in which ^{▼▼Or the Spirit, in whom} he went and ^akproclaimed ^{▼▼Or preached} to the spirits in prison, 20 because ^{▼▼Or when} they formerly did not obey, ^anwhen God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, ^aowhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^apeight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^aqnow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^aras an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^asthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and ^atis at the right hand of God, ^auwith angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.