¹³ Any vow or any binding oath to humble herself,^[a] her husband may allow to stand or her husband may nullify.

³ But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man^[a] is the head of the woman,^[b] and God is the head of Christ.^(A)

Wives and Husbands

3 Wives, in the same way, be subject to your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,^{(A) 2} when they see the purity and respect of your conduct. ³ Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;^{(B) 4} rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.^{(C) 5} It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by being subject to their husbands. ⁶ Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.^(D)

⁹ Neither was man created for the sake of woman but woman for the sake of man.^(A)

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the River Ahava, that we might humble ourselves^[a] before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.^(A)

Offerings on the Day of Atonement

⁷ “On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and humble yourselves;^[a] you shall do no work.^(A)

³² It shall be to you a Sabbath of complete rest, and you shall humble yourselves;^[a] on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your Sabbath.”