1 And ye also wives, be subject to your husbands, that those of them that do not obey the word may be gained by the life of their wives without a word,

2 When they see your pure, God-fearing life.

3 Let not the outward plaiting of the hair be your adornment, nor the headdresses of gold, nor the finery of the garments,

4 but the hidden man of the heart is in the incorruptible beauty of a meek and silent spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

5 Thus also the holy women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves in obedience to their husbands.

6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her children, if you do good and are not troubled by any fear.

7 In the same way, husbands, treat your wives wisely, as with a weaker vessel, giving them honor as joint heirs of a grace-filled life, so that you may not be hindered in your prayers.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, compassionate, brotherly, merciful, friendly, humble-minded;

9 Do not repay evil for evil, or reproach for reproach; on the contrary, bless, knowing that you are called to this in order to inherit the blessing.

10 For whosoever loveth life, and desireth to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his mouth from evil speech;

11 Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace and strive for it,

12 for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears on their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13 And who will do you evil, if you are zealous for what is good?

14 But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, ye are blessed; and do not be afraid of their fear, and do not be troubled.

15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; Be always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give an account of your hope, with meekness and reverence.

16 Have a good conscience, that by the things wherefore you are reviled as evildoers, those who reproach your good life in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For if it pleases the will of God, it is better to suffer for good works than for evil;

18 For Christ also, to bring us to God, once suffered for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, being put to death according to the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

19 to whom he also went down and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 To those who were once disobedient to the long-suffering of God that awaited them, in the days of Noah, in the time of the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved from the water.