Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

1Likewise, wives being subject to their own husbands; that also, if any believe not the word, by the turning back of wives might be gained without the word; 2Having beheld in fear your pure turning back. 3Whose outside let it not be of the interweaving of hairs, and of putting round of gold, or of putting on of garments, the arrangement; 4But the hidden man of the heart, in the uncorruptedness of a mild and quiet spirit, which is before God of great price. 5For so once also the holy women, hoping in God, arranged themselves, being subjected to their own husbands: 6(As Sara listened to Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye are,) doing good, and not fearing any terror.

7Men, likewise, dwelling together according to knowledge, as showing honour to the weaker vessel, pertaining to woman, and as co-heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers be not cut off.

Turning from Evil

8And finally, all unanimous, suffering together, loving the brethren, having good bowels, an affectionate disposition: 9Not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing: and on the contrary prayer; knowing that to this were ye called, that ye might inherit praise.

10For he wishing to love life, and to see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit:

11Let him bend away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and follow it.

12For the eyes of the Lord upon the just, and his ears to their prayer: and the face of the Lord against them doing evil.

13And who going to injure you, if ye be imitators of good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14But if ye also suffer for justice, happy are ye: be not afraid of their fear, neither be troubled; 15And consecrate the Lord God in your hearts: and being ready always for a justification to every one asking you the word of the hope in you with meekness and fear: 16Having a good consciousness; that, in what they speak evil against you, as doing evil, they threatening your good turning round in Christ should be ashamed. 17Fur better, doing good, if the will of God will, to suffer, than doing evil. 18For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just one for the unjust, that he might bring us near to God, truly put to death in the flesh, and made alive by the Spirit: 19In which also having gone, he proclaimed to the spirits in prison; 20They having been once unbelieving, when the longsuffering of God waited in Noah's days, the ark being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21By which also the figure, immersion, now saves us (not by laying aside of the filth of the flesh, but the question of a good consciousness toward God,) by the rising up of Jesus Christ: 22Who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers subjected to him.