Wives and Husbands
(Ephesians 5:22–33)
1Ye women likewise, be subject to your own husbands, that if any believe not the word, they may yet without the word be gained over by the deportment of the wives,2beholding your chaste conversation inthe fearof God.3Whose adorning, let it not be that without, of plaiting the hair, and putting on of gold, or wearingfine clothes;4but the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptibleornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.5For so also formerly the holy women, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling himher lord:6whose daughters ye are, if ye do well, and are not terrified with anysinful fear.
7Ye husbands likewise, dwell withthem according to knowledge, yielding due respect to the wife as the weaker vessel, and as joint-heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Turning from Evil
8Finally,my beloved, be unanimous,be sympathizing, love as brethren,be compassionate,be courteous:9not returning evil for evil, or reproach for reproach: but on the contrary blessingeven those that curse you: knowing ye are called unto this, that ye may obtain a blessing.
10"For he that would desire life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile;
11let him turn away from evil, and do good:
12let him seek peace, and pursue it: for the eyes of the Lordare upon the righteous, and his earsare open to their prayer: but the face of the Lordis against them that do evil."
13And who will hurt you, if ye be imitators of Him that is good?
Suffering for Righteousness
14But if ye should even suffer for righteousness sake, happyare ye: andtherefore be not afraid of their menaces, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:15and be always ready to answer every one that asketh you a reason of the hopethat is in you, with meekness and reverence:16having a good conscience, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.17Forit is better (if it be the will of God) to sufferfor doing good thanfor doing evil.18As Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust (that He might introduce us to God) being indeed put to death in the flesh, but raised to life by the Spirit:19by which also He went and preached to the spiritsnow in prison;20who of old were disobedient, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing; whereina few, that is eight souls, were saved by water.21The resemblance of which,even baptism, doth also now save us, (not theoutward cleansing of filth from the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,22who is gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.
