Read the Bible

Married Folk

¹ Ladies, you need to respect your husbands in the same way. Even if some of them ain't riding for the Lord, your godly living will speak words that mouths cannot. Your right living will win 'em over. ² They will see how pure and reverent you are.

³ Don't worry about your outward appearance. Fancy hairstyles, big jewelry, and beautiful clothes don't make you beautiful. ⁴ Clothe yourself with the kind of gorgeous that can only come from inside of you. I'm talking about a gentle and quiet presence about you. These are the things that are precious to the Lord. ⁵ This is how the old-time women acted and why they seemed so regal. They trusted God and put themselves under the authority of their husbands. ⁶ Do you remember Sarah? She obeyed Abraham and even called him master. You ladies are like daughters of Sarah when you do what is right without worrying about what your husbands might do.

Husbands

⁷ Y'all ain't off the hook either, husbands. You should honor your wives. Understand that she is a precious gift as you live together. She may not be as physically strong as you, but she is equal in your new life that God has given you. Treat her right so your prayers will be heard.

Everyone

⁸ Finally, y'all should all be like-minded. Take care of each other. Be humble and tender. ⁹ Don't retaliate against each other or trade insults like uppercuts. If someone hurts you, bless them. Pay them back with prayer. This is the kind of life God has called you to. You live like this and God's blessings will overflow. ¹⁰ The Good Book says, "If you want to enjoy the life you have, keep your tongue from speaking ill and your lips from telling lies. ¹¹ Turn your back on all this world's sorry ways. Snake out a loop and keep an eye out for peace. When you see it, rope it and tie off hard. ¹² The Lord is watching over everyone who does what is right. He listens to these cowboy's prayers. But the Lord will turn his back on those whose ways are belligerent."

Good Suffering

¹³ Who is really going to want to harm a man for doing something good? ¹⁴ But even if it happens, God will reward you for your right doing and the pain you suffer. Don't fret about their threats. ¹⁵ Instead of worrying and frettin', ride with God every single day and be ready to introduce everyone you know to the one you follow. ¹⁶ But whatever you do, be gentle and respectful. Do things the right way so your conscience is always clear. This way, when people speak ill of you to others, it will be the slanderer who is shamed because of your good conduct. ¹⁷ Think about it, if you have to suffer, do it for the right reasons, not the wrong ones.

¹⁸ Don't you remember Christ was nailed to a tree in suffering once and for all time? He never messed up—not once! But he died like a sinner in your place, so you too could have a place in heaven. Even though he died a physical death, he was brought back from the grave in the Spirit.

¹⁹ While in this spiritual state, Jesus went and preached the good news to those in prison. ²⁰ I'm talking about those who scoffed at Noah while he built his boat. Only eight folks survived the flood and the rest drowned like rats. ²¹ But don't miss the point of all of this. Noah was saved from the water, but now we are saved by the water. The waters of the baptism don't wash away the dirt from your skin, but by washing away the sins from your soul by symbolically following Jesus through his death, burial, and resurrection.

²² Now Jesus is in heaven. He has taken his place at the right hand of God and has all the authority of all of creation under God.