² as they observe your chaste and ^[a]respectful behavior.

⁵ For in this way in former times the holy women also, ^(A)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(B)calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right ^[a](C)without being frightened by any fear.

^7 (D)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^[b](E)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^8 [c]To sum up, ^(F)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^(G)brotherly, ^(H)kindhearted, and ^(I)humble in spirit; ^9 (J)not returning evil for evil or ^(K)insult for insult, but ^[d]giving a ^(L)blessing instead; for ^(M)you were called for the very purpose that you might ^(N)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

^13 (R)Who is ^[e]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(S)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(T)you ^[f]are blessed. ^(U)And do not fear their ^[g]intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^[h]sanctify ^(V)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(W)to make a ^[i]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(X)hope that is in you, yet ^(Y)with gentleness and ^[j](Z)reverence; ^16 [k]and keep a ^(AA)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(AB)you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(AC)it is better, ^(AD)if ^[l]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(AE)Christ also died for sins ^(AF)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(AG)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(AH)in the flesh, but made alive ^(AI)in the ^[m]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[n]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient, when the ^(AJ)patience of God ^(AK)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(AL)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(AM)eight ^(AN)persons, were brought safely through the ^[o]water. ^21 (AO)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(AP)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[p]for a ^(AQ)good conscience—through ^(AR)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AS)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AT)having gone into heaven, ^(AU)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.