1 UPhetro 3
1 Ngokunjalo bafazi, zehliseleni ngaphansi kwawenu amadoda, ukuze kuthi, uba-ke bekhona abangalaleli ilizwi, bazuzwe ngaphandle kwelizwi ngokuziphatha kwabafazi,
In this way, you who are wives should submit to your own husbands. Do this so even if some men are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word, through their wives' behavior.
2 enanzelela ukuhamba kwenu okuhlambulukileyo ekwesabeni.
For they will have seen your sincere behavior with respect.
3 Okuceca kwenu kakungabi ngokwangaphandle okokweluka inwele, lokokugqiza igolide, kumbe okokugqoka izembatho;
Let it be done not with outward ornaments such as braided hair, jewels of gold, or fashionable clothing.
4 kodwa umuntu osithekileyo wenhliziyo, entweni engagugiyo yomoya omnene lokuthula, oligugu elikhulu phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
Instead, let it be done with the inner person of the heart, and the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious before God.
5 Ngoba kudala bazicecisa ngokunjalo labesifazana abangcwele ababethemba uNkulunkulu, bezehlisela ngaphansi kwawabo amadoda;
For this is how holy women long ago who hoped in God adorned themselves, by submitting to their husbands.
6 njengoSara owamlalela uAbrahama, wambiza ngokuthi nkosi, eselingamadodakazi akhe, uba lisenza okuhle njalo lingesatshiswa langokukodwa okwesabekayo.
In this way Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are now her children if you do what is good and if you are not afraid of trouble.
7 Ngokunjalo madoda, hlalisanani ngokolwazi, limhloniphe owesifazana njengesitsha esibuthakathaka, njengoba labo beyizindlalifa zomusa wempilo kanye lani, ukuze imikhuleko yenu ingavinjelwa.
In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives according to understanding, as with a weaker container, a woman. You should give them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Do this so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Okokucina-ke, banini nhliziyonye lonke, lizwelane, lithande abazalwane, libe lobubele, lilomusa;
Finally, all of you, be likeminded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, and humble.
9 lingaphindiseli okubi ngokubi, kumbe ukuthuka ngokuthuka; kodwa esikhundleni salokhu busisani, lisazi ukuthi labizelwa lokho, ukuze lidle ilifa lesibusiso.
Do not pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. On the contrary, continue to bless, because for this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.
10 Ngoba lowo ofuna ukuthanda impilo, lokubona insuku ezinhle, kanqande ulimi lwakhe kokubi, lendebe zakhe ukuze zingakhulumi inkohliso;
“The one who wants to love life and see good days should stop his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 kaphambuke kokubi, abesesenza okuhle; adinge ukuthula, njalo akunxwanele.
Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 Ngoba amehlo eNkosi aphezu kwabalungileyo, lendlebe zayo zingasemkhulekweni wabo; kodwa ubuso beNkosi bumelana labenza okubi.
The eyes of the Lord see the righteous, and his ears hear their requests. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Pho ngubani ongalilimaza, uba lingabalingisi bokuhle?
Who is the one who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 Kodwa uba lani lihlupheka ngenxa yokulunga, libusisiwe; njalo lingesabi ukwethusa kwabo, njalo lingakhathazeki;
But if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be troubled.
15 kodwa ngcwelisani iNkosi uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni zenu; beselihlala lizilungisele ukuphendula wonke olibuza isizatho ngethemba elikini, kanye lobumnene lokwesaba,
Instead, set apart the Lord Christ in your hearts as holy. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you why you have confidence in God. Do this with meekness and respect.
16 lilesazela esihle, ukuze kuthi kulokho abalihleba ngakho njengabenzi bobubi bayangeke, labo abathuka ukuziphatha kwenu okuhle kuKristu.
Have a good conscience so that the people who insult your good life in Christ may be ashamed because they are speaking against you as if you were evildoers.
17 Ngoba kungcono ukuhlupheka lisenza okuhle, uba intando kaNkulunkulu ikuthanda, kulokuhlupheka lisenza okubi.
It is better, if God desires, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 Ngoba loKristu wahlupheka kanye ngenxa yezono, olungileyo esikhundleni sabangalunganga, ukuze asise kuNkulunkulu; owabulawa enyameni, kodwa wenziwa waphila ngoMoya,
Christ also suffered once for sins. He who is righteous suffered for us, who were unrighteous, so that he would bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but he was made alive by the Spirit.
19 ayesehambe ngawo laye watshumayela kumimoya esentolongweni,
By the Spirit, he went and preached to the spirits who are now in prison.
20 eyababekade bengalaleli, lapho ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kwakukade kulindele, ensukwini zikaNowa lapho umkhumbi wawusakhiwa, okwasindiswa kuwo abalutshwana, okuyikuthi imiphefumulo eyisificaminwembili, ngamanzi.
They were disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, in the days of the building of an ark, and God saved a few people—eight souls—by means of the water.
21 Umfuziselo wawo lubhabhathizo olusisindisayo lathi khathesi, kungeyisikho ukususwa kwengcekeza yenyama, kodwa ukucela kwesazela esihle kuNkulunkulu, ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu,
This is a symbol of the baptism that saves you now—not as a washing away of dirt from the body, but as the appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 oseye ezulwini, ekhona ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, izingilosi leziphathamandla lamandla sekwehliselwe ngaphansi kwakhe.
Christ is at the right hand of God. He went into heaven. Angels, authorities, and powers must submit to him.
A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark
