Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don't obey the Word, they may be gained by the behavior of their wives without a word;
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The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated
2 seeing your pure behavior in fear.
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by your life of holy beauty.
3 Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing;
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What matters is not your outer appearance - the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes -
4 but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.
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but your inner disposition.
5 For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God, also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
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The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands.
6 as Sarah obeyed Avraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
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Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.
7 You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; not cutting off your prayers.
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The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground. Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,
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Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.
9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
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That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
10 For, "He who would love life, And see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
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Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful;
11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek shalom, and pursue it.
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Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears open to their prayer; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
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God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.
13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?
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If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."
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Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought.
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:
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Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Messiah.
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Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.
17 For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
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It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.
18 Because Messiah also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
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That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all - was put to death and then made alive - to bring us to God.
19 in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
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He went and proclaimed God's salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment
20 who before were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited patiently in the days of Noach, while the teivah was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
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because they wouldn't listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact - saved from the water by the water.
21 This is a symbol of immersion, which now saves you - not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah,
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The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus' resurrection before God with a clear conscience.
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
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Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He's standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.