Duty of wives and husbands -- Unity and love enjoined.

¹⁾Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives;

²⁾While they behold your chaste conduct coupled with fear.

³⁾Let your adorning be not that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel;

⁴⁾But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

⁵⁾For after this manner in old times the holy women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands;

⁶⁾Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do will, and are not afraid with any amazement.

⁷⁾Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

⁸⁾Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous;

⁹⁾Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

¹⁰⁾For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile;

¹¹⁾Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

¹²⁾For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

¹³⁾And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

¹⁴⁾But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

¹⁵⁾But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer with meekness and fear to every man that asketh of you a reason for the hope that is in you:

¹⁶⁾Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.

¹⁷⁾For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

¹⁸⁾For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, that he might bring us to God.

¹⁹⁾For which cause also, he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

²⁰⁾Some of whom were disobedient in the days of Noah, while the long-suffering of God waited, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

²¹⁾The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

²²⁾Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.