New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct,
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Wives, be ruled by your husbands; so that even if some of them give no attention to the word, their hearts may be changed by the behaviour of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
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When they see your holy behaviour in the fear of God.
3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;
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Do not let your ornaments be those of the body such as dressing of the hair, or putting on of jewels of gold or fair clothing;
4 rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight.
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But let them be those of the unseen man of the heart, the ever-shining ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the eyes of God.
5 It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands.
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And these were the ornaments of the holy women of the past, whose hope was in God, being ruled by their husbands:
6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.
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As Sarah was ruled by Abraham, naming him lord; whose children you are if you do well, and are not put in fear by any danger.
7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.
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And you husbands, give thought to your way of life with your wives, giving honour to the woman who is the feebler vessel, but who has an equal part in the heritage of the grace of life; so that you may not be kept from prayer.
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
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Last of all, see that you are all in agreement; feeling for one another, loving one another like brothers, full of pity, without pride:
9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
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Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.
10 For "Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;
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For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit:
11 let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.
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And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart.
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."
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For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
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Who will do you any damage if you keep your minds fixed on what is good?
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,
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But you are happy if you undergo pain because of righteousness; have no part in their fear and do not be troubled;
15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
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But give honour to Christ in your hearts as your Lord; and be ready at any time when you are questioned about the hope which is in you, to give an answer in the fear of the Lord and without pride;
16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
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Being conscious that you have done no wrong; so that those who say evil things about your good way of life as Christians may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.
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Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
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Because Christ once went through pain for sins, the upright one taking the place of sinners, so that through him we might come back to God; being put to death in the flesh, but given life in the Spirit;
19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
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By whom he went to the spirits in prison, preaching to those
20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
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Who, in the days of Noah, went against God's orders; but God in his mercy kept back the punishment, while Noah got ready the ark, in which a small number, that is to say eight persons, got salvation through water:
21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
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And baptism, of which this is an image, now gives you salvation, not by washing clean the flesh, but by making you free from the sense of sin before God, through the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead;
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
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Who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been put under his rule.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.