1Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for doing good
8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
‘Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats3:14 Or fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’3:14 Isaiah 8:12 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19After being made alive,3:18,19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits – 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience towards God.3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Ɔyerenom Ne Okununom
1Saa ara nso na ɔyerenom nso ɛsɛ sɛ mobrɛ mo ho ase ma mo kununom sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a sɛ wɔn mu bi nnye asɛm no nni a, mo suban pa no bɛtwetwe wɔn ama wɔagye asɛm no adi. Ɛho nhia sɛ mobɛka biribi, 2efisɛ wobehu obu ne nidi a mode ma Onyankopɔn wɔ mo suban mu. 3Mommfa nneɛma foforo bi nkeka mo ho mma mo ho nyɛ fɛ; sɛ ɛyɛ ɔkwan a mofa so kyekyere mo ti, anaa adwinne a mode siesie mo ho, anaa ntama a mufura. 4Momfa odwo ne ahobrɛase nkyerɛ mo ahoɔfɛ a ɛyɛ komamtew no. Saa ahoɔfɛ yi kyɛ na ɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani. 5Saa ɔkwan yi so na mmea agyidifo a wɔtenaa ase tete no a na wɔwɔ anidaso wɔ Onyankopɔn mu no nam brɛɛ wɔn ho ase maa wɔn kununom de kyerɛɛ wɔn ahoɔfɛ. 6Sara yɛɛ saa ara. Otiee Abraham asɛm frɛɛ no “Me wura.” Mprempren sɛ moyɛ papa na munsuro hwee a moyɛ ne mmabea.
7Mo okununom nso, saa ara na ɛsɛ sɛ modwene mo yerenom ho wɔ mo asetena mu. Momfa nidi mma wɔn na munhu mmerɛw a wɔyɛ na munhu sɛ wɔne mo yɛ adedifo, na biribi ansiw mo mpaebɔ ho kwan.
Papayɛ So Amanehunu
8Nea etwa to, mo nyinaa montena ase asomdwoe mu. Munnya ɔtema mma mo ho mo ho. Monnodɔ mo ho mo ho, na monyɛ ahummɔbɔ, na mommrɛ mo ho ase. 9Mommfa bɔne ntua bɔne so ka, na mommfa ɔyaw nso ntua ɔyaw so ka. Na mmom, daa munhyirahyira, efisɛ ɛno nti na wɔfrɛɛ mo, na moanya nhyira. 10Efisɛ Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se,
“Obiara a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔtena ase yiye
na ohu nna pa no,
ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔka kasa bɔne,
na ɛsɛ sɛ ogyae atorotwa.
11Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtew ne ho fi bɔne ho na ɔyɛ papa
na ɔhwehwɛ asomdwoe na odi akyi.
12Efisɛ Awurade ani wɔ atreneefo so
na otie wɔn mpaebɔ
na otia wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne.”
13Sɛ wopere sɛ wopɛ sɛ woyɛ nea ɛteɛ a, hena na ɔbɛhaw wo? 14Na sɛ ɛba mpo sɛ woyɛ nea ɛteɛ na wuhu ho amane a, wʼani gye. Munnsuro nnipa, na mommma hwee nhaw mo. 15Momfa nidi mma Kristo wɔ mo koma mu, na momma ɔnyɛ mo Awurade. Bere biara a obi bebisa mo gyidi a mowɔ wɔ mo mu ho asɛm no, monkyerɛ no ase. 16Momfa obu ne nidi mma saa mmuae no. Momma mo adwene mu nna hɔ sɛnea wɔn a wɔka kasa bɔne fa mo suban pa wɔ Kristo mu no ho no anim begu ase wɔ wɔn nseku no ho. 17Efisɛ sɛ ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn pɛ sɛ mubehu amane a, eye sɛ mubehu ade trenee a moyɛe ho amane sen sɛ mobɛyɛ bɔne. 18Efisɛ Kristo no ankasa wu maa mo. Owui pɛnkoro maa mo bɔne sɛnea ɛbɛma moatumi akɔ Onyankopɔn nkyɛn. Wokum no ɔhonam mu, nanso ɔsɔree wɔ honhom mu, 19na ɔnam honhom no so kɔkaa Asɛmpa no kyerɛɛ ahonhom a wɔda afiase no. 20Ahonhom yi yɛɛ asoɔden tiaa Onyankopɔn bere a Noa resen ne hyɛn no, nanso Onyankopɔn tɔɔ ne bo ase maa wɔn. Onyankopɔn nam nsu no so gyee nnipa baawɔtwe nkwa, 21na saa nsu yi yɛ asubɔ a egye mo nkwa mprempren no nsɛnkyerɛnne; ɛnyɛ ɔhonam ani fi hohoro, na mmom, ɛyɛ bɔ a wofi ahonim pa mu hyɛ Onyankopɔn. Ɛnam Yesu Kristo wusɔre so gye mo nkwa. 22Kristo kɔ ɔsoro afei, na ɔte Onyankopɔn nifa so na odi abɔfo ne wim atumfo nyinaa so hene.
