| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live | 1In a similar way, you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands so that, even if some of them refuse to obey the word, they may be won over without a word through your conduct as wives |
| 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. | 2when they see your pure and reverent lives. |
| 3Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. | 3Your beauty should not be an external one, consisting of braided hair or the wearing of gold ornaments and dresses. |
| 4Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. | 4Instead, it should be the inner disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which God values greatly. |
| 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, | 5After all, this is how holy women who set their hope on God used to make themselves beautiful in the past. They submitted themselves to their husbands, |
| 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. | 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters by doing good and by not letting anything terrify you. |
| 7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. | 7In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner. Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers. |
| 8Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, | 8Finally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble. |
| 9not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. | 9Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, keep blessing them, because you were called to inherit a blessing. |
| 10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, | 10"For the person who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. |
| 11and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it, | 11He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it. |
| 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. | 12For the Lord watches the righteous, and he pays attention to their prayers. But the Lord opposes those who do wrong." |
| 13And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? | 13Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? |
| 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, | 14But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. "Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. |
| 15but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. | 15Instead, exalt the Messiah" as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. |
| 16However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. | 16But do this gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah will be ashamed of slandering you. |
| 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. | 17After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong. |
| 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. | 18For the Messiah also suffered for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that he could bring you to God. He was put to death in a mortal body but was brought to life by the Spirit, |
| 19In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison | 19in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits |
| 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water. | 20who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water. |
| 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | 21Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, |
| 22Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. | 22who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him. |
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