In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any do not obey the Word, they may be won by the behaviour of their wives without a word; 2seeing your pure behaviour in fear. 3Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; 4but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of Allah very precious. 5For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in Allah, also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6as Sarah obeyed Ibrahim, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do right, and are not put in fear by any threat.
7You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.
8Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“Whoever loves life,
And desires to see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking lies.
11Let him turn away from evil, and do good.
Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
12Allah’s eyes are on the righteous,
His ears listen to their prayer;
Allah’s face is against those who do evil.“[1]
13Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread of it. 15But sanctify Allah, Lord of the universe[2] 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: 16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in al-Masih. 17For it is better, if Allah should so will, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18Because al-Masih also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to Allah; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who before were disobedient, when Allah waited patiently in the days of Nuh, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you – not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward Allah, through the resurrection of ‘Isa al-Masih, 22who is at the right hand of Allah, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
[1] 3:10-12 Quoting the Zabur 34:12-16.
[2] 3:14-15 Quoting the prophet Shaya 8:12-13 in the Taurat.