Young's Literal Translation YLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 In like manner, the wives, be ye subject to your own husbands, that even if certain are disobedient to the word, through the conversation of the wives, without the word, they may be won,
1
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 having beheld your pure behaviour in fear,
2
by your life of holy beauty.
3 whose adorning -- let it not be that which is outward, of plaiting of hair, and of putting around of things of gold, or of putting on of garments,
3
What matters is not your outer appearance - the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes -
4 but -- the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible thing of the meek and quiet spirit, which is, before God, of great price,
4
but your inner disposition.
5 for thus once also the holy women who did hope on God, were adorning themselves, being subject to their own husbands,
5
The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands.
6 as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him `sir,' of whom ye did become daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.
6
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 The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with [them], according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel -- to the wife -- imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
7
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 And finally, being all of one mind, having fellow-feeling, loving as brethren, compassionate, courteous,
8
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.
9 not giving back evil for evil, or railing for railing, and on the contrary, blessing, having known that to this ye were called, that a blessing ye may inherit;
9
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 is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips -- not to speak guile;
10
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 aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;
11
Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth.
12 because the eyes of the Lord [are] upon the righteous, and His ears -- to their supplication, and the face of the Lord [is] upon those doing evil;'
12
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 and who [is] he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators?
13
If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped?
14 but if ye also should suffer because of righteousness, happy [are ye]! and of their fear be not afraid, nor be troubled,
14
Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought.
15 and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And [be] ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that [is] in you, with meekness and fear;
15
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 in that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ;
16
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 doing good, if the will of God will it, to suffer, than doing evil;
17
It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.
18 because also Christ once for sin did suffer -- righteous for unrighteous -- that he might lead us to God, having been put to death indeed, in the flesh, and having been made alive in the spirit,
18
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 also to the spirits in prison having gone he did preach,
19
He went and proclaimed God's salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment
20 who sometime disbelieved, when once the long-suffering of God did wait, in days of Noah -- an ark being preparing -- in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water;
20
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 also to which an antitype doth now save us -- baptism, (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God,) through the rising again of Jesus Christ,
21
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 on to heaven -- messengers, and authorities, and powers, having been subjected to him.
22
Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He's standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
Young's Literal Translation 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.