Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: 1 Peter | Page 3

women, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands, so that even if some of them disbelieve the Message, they may, apart from the Message, be won over by the daily life of their wives, after watching your daily life-- 003:002 so full of reverence, and so blameless! 003:003 Your adornment ought not to be a merely outward thing--one of plaiting the hair, putting on jewelry, or wearing beautiful dresses. 003:004 Instead of that, it should be a new nature within-- the imperishable ornament of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is indeed precious in the sight of God. 003:005 For in ancient times also this was the way the holy women who set their hopes upon God used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their husbands. 003:006 Thus, for instance, Sarah obeyed Abraham, acknowledging his authority over her. And you have become Sarah's children if you do what is right and permit nothing whatever to terrify you. 003:007 Married men, in the same way, live with your wives with a clear recognition of the fact that they are weaker than you. Yet, since you are heirs with them of God's free gift of Life, treat them with honour; so that your prayers may not be hindered. 003:008 In conclusion, all of you should be of one mind, quick to sympathize, kind to the brethren, tenderhearted, lowly-minded, 003:009 not requiting evil with evil nor abuse with abuse, but, on the contrary, giving a blessing in return, because a blessing is what you have been called by God to inherit. 003:010 For "He who wishes to be well-satisfied with life and see happy days--let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from deceitful words; 003:011 Let him turn from evil, and do good; Let him inquire for peace and go in pursuit of it. 003:012 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their supplication; but the face of the Lord is set against evil-doers." 003:013 And who will be able to harm you, if you show yourselves zealous for that which is good? 003:014 But even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are to be envied. So do not be alarmed by their threats, nor troubled; 003:015 but in your hearts consecrate Christ as Lord, being always ready to make your defence to any one who asks from you a reason for the hope which you cherish. 003:016 Yet argue modestly and cautiously, keeping your consciences free from guilt, so that, when you are spoken against, those who slander your good Christian lives may be put to shame. 003:017 For it is better that you should suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing evil; 003:018 because Christ also once for all died for sins, the innocent One for the guilty many, in order to bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 003:019 in which He also went and proclaimed His Message to the spirits that were in prison, 003:020 who in ancient times had been disobedient, while God's longsuffering was patiently waiting in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons-- eight in number--were brought safely through the water. 003:021 And, corresponding to that figure, the water of baptism now saves you-- not the washing off of material defilement, but the craving of a good conscience after God--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 003:022 who is at God's right hand, having gone into Heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 004:001 Since, then, Christ has suffered in the flesh, you also must arm yourselves with a determination to do the same-- because he who has suffered in the flesh has done with sin-- 004:002 that in future you may spend the rest of your earthly lives, governed not by human passions, but by the will of God. 004:003 For you have given time enough in the past to the doing of the things which the Gentiles delight in--pursuing, as you did, a course of habitual licence, debauchery, hard drinking, noisy revelry, drunkenness and unholy image-worship. 004:004 At this they are astonished--that you do not run into the same excess of profligacy as they do; and they speak abusively of you. 004:005 But they will have to give account to Him who stands ready to pronounce judgement on the living and the dead. 004:006 For it is with this end in view that the Good News was proclaimed even to some who were dead, that they may be judged, as all mankind will be judged, in the body, but may be living a godly life in the spirit. 004:007 But the