1 UPhetro 3
1 Ngokunjalo, bafazi zehliseni kubomkenu ukuze kuthi lanxa abanye babo bengalikholwa ilizwi, baphenduke ngokuziphatha kwabomkabo kungekho kukhuluma,
Married 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--
2 lapho bebona ukuhlanzeka lenhlonipho yokuphila kwenu.
so full of reverence, and so blameless!
3 Ubuhle benu kabungaveli ekuziceciseni kwangaphandle, okunjengenwele ezelukiweyo lokugqiza izigqizo zegolide kanye lokugqoka izigqoko ezinhle.
Your adornment ought not to be a merely outward thing--one of plaiting the hair, putting on jewelry, or wearing beautiful dresses.
4 Kodwa kumele bube ngobangaphakathi kwenu, ubuhle obungapheliyo bomoya omnene lothuleyo, oligugu elikhulu emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.
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.
5 Ngoba le yiyo indlela abesifazane abangcwele bakudala ababethembe uNkulunkulu bejayele ukuzicola ngayo. Babezehlisa kubomkabo,
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.
6 njengoSara owalalela u-Abhrahama wambiza ngokuthi yinkosi yakhe. Lingamadodakazi kaSara nxa lisenza okulungileyo njalo lingavumeli ukwesaba.
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.
7 Ngokufanayo, madoda ekuphileni kwenu labomkenu wobani lozwelo, libaphathe ngenhlonipho njengababuthakathaka labazindlalifa kanye lani zesipho sokuphila esomusa, ukuze kungabi lalutho oluzavimbela imikhuleko yenu.
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.
8 Okokucina lonke hlalisanani ngokuthula; wobani lozwelo, lithandane njengabazalwane, libe lesihawu kanye lokuthobeka.
In conclusion, all of you should be of one mind, quick to sympathize, kind to the brethren, tenderhearted, lowly-minded,
9 Lingaphindiseli okubi ngokubi loba inhlamba ngenhlamba, kodwa ngesibusiso, ngoba labizelwa ukuze lizuze ilifa lokubusiswa.
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.
10 Ngoba, “Lowo othanda ukuphila abone lensuku ezinhle kumele anqande ulimi lwakhe kokubi lezindebe zakhe ekukhulumeni inkohliso.
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;
11 Kumele batshiye ububi benze okulungileyo; kumele bafune ukuthula njalo bakunxwanele.
Let him turn from evil, and do good; Let him inquire for peace and go in pursuit of it.
12 Ngoba amehlo kaThixo akhangele abalungileyo lezindlebe zakhe ziyezwa, imikhuleko yabo, kodwa ubuso bukaJehova bumelana lalabo abenza okubi.”
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."
13 Ngubani ozalilimaza nxa litshisekela ukwenza okulungileyo na?
And who will be able to harm you, if you show yourselves zealous for that which is good?
14 Kodwa lanxa lingahlupheka ngenxa yokulungileyo, libusisekile. “Lingakwesabi lokho abakwesabayo; kalingethuswa.”
But even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are to be envied. So do not be alarmed by their threats, nor troubled;
15 Kodwa yamukelani uKhristu ezinhliziyweni zenu njengeNkosi engcwele. Hlalani lilungele ukuphendula loba ngubani olibuza isizatho ngethemba elilalo.
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.
16 Kodwa lokhu kwenzeni ngobumnene langenhlonipho, lilesazela esihle, ukuze kuthi labo abakhuluma okubi ngokuziphatha kwenu okuhle kuKhristu bayangeke ngokuhlambaza kwabo.
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.
17 Ngoba kungcono nxa kuyintando kaNkulunkulu, ukuhlupheka ngenxa yokwenza okulungileyo kulokwenza okubi.
For it is better that you should suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing evil;
18 Ngoba uKhristu wafela izono zenu kwaba kanye, olungileyo efela abangalunganga, ukuze alise kuNkulunkulu. Wabulawa emzimbeni, kodwa wavuswa nguMoya,
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,
19 wahamba ngaye wayatshumayela emimoyeni eyayisentolongweni yona
in which He also went and proclaimed His Message to the spirits that were in prison,
20 engalalelanga kudala lapho uNkulunkulu alinda khona ngokubekezela ensukwini zikaNowa umkhumbi usakhiwa. Phakathi kwawo abantu abalutshwana nje kuphela, abayisificaminwembili bebonke, basindiswa ngamanzi,
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.
21 njalo amanzi la afanekisa umbhaphathizo osusilisa lani futhi, kungayisikho kususa ingcekeza emzimbeni kodwa kuyisibambiso sesazela esihle kuNkulunkulu. Siyalisilisa ngokuvuka kwabafileyo kukaJesu Khristu,
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,
22 oseye ezulwini njalo usesandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu, lezingilosi, leziphathamandla kanye lezikhulu ekuzehliseni kuye.
who is at God's right hand, having gone into Heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
