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 behavior 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 jewelry 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 behavior 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 symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward 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.
夫妻之道
1-2照樣，你們作妻子的要順服自己的丈夫。這樣，即使丈夫不信從真道，也會因為看見妻子貞潔和敬虔的品行而被無聲地感化。 3你們不要注重外表的妝飾，像編頭髮、戴金飾或穿華麗的衣服， 4要以溫柔、嫺靜這些永不褪色的內在美為妝飾，這是上帝所看重的。 5從前那些仰賴上帝的聖潔婦女，都以這些來妝飾自己，並順服自己的丈夫， 6正如撒拉順服亞伯拉罕，稱他為主人。你們如果做對的事，不怕恐嚇，就是撒拉的女兒。
7你們作丈夫的也一樣，要按情理3·7 「按情理」希臘文是「按知識」。與妻子共同生活，因為她們比你們軟弱。要敬重她們，因為她們和你們一同承受生命之恩。這樣，你們的禱告就可以暢通無阻了。
要為義受苦
8總而言之，你們要同心合意，互相關懷，彼此相愛，仁慈謙卑。 9不要以惡報惡，以辱罵還辱罵，反要祝福對方，因為這是你們蒙召的目的，好叫你們蒙福。 10聖經上說：
「若有人熱愛生命，
渴望幸福，
就要舌頭不出惡言，
嘴唇不說詭詐的話。
11要棄惡行善，竭力追求和睦。
12因為主的眼睛看顧義人，
祂的耳朵垂聽他們的祈求。
但主必嚴懲作惡之人。」3·10-12 詩篇34·12‑16。
13如果你們熱心行善，有誰會害你們呢？ 14就算你們為義受苦，也是有福的。不要害怕別人的恐嚇3·14 「不要害怕別人的恐嚇」或譯「不要怕別人所怕的」。以賽亞書8·12。，也不要驚慌， 15要從心裡尊基督為主。如果有人問起你們心中的盼望，你們要隨時準備答覆， 16但態度要溫和恭敬，存無愧的良心。這樣，那些對你們在基督裡的好品行妄加誣衊的人會自覺羞愧。 17如果上帝的旨意是要你們因行善而受苦，也總比你們因作惡而受苦強。
18因為基督也曾一次為罪受苦3·18 「受苦」有古卷作「受死」。，以無罪之身代替不義之人，為要領你們到上帝面前。祂的肉體雖被處死，但祂藉著聖靈復活了。 19祂還藉著聖靈向那些被監禁的靈魂傳道， 20就是從前在挪亞造方舟、上帝耐心等候人們悔改的時代中那些不肯信的人。當時進入方舟，從洪水中得救的人很少，只有八個人。 21這水預表的洗禮現在藉著耶穌基督的復活也拯救了你們，這洗禮不是要除掉肉體的污穢，而是求在上帝面前有無愧的良心。 22基督已經升到天上，坐在上帝的右邊，眾天使、掌權的、有能力的都服從了祂。
