1 UPhetro 3

1 Ngokunjalo bafazi, zehliseleni ngaphansi kwawenu amadoda, ukuze kuthi, uba-ke bekhona abangalaleli ilizwi, bazuzwe ngaphandle kwelizwi ngokuziphatha kwabafazi,

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word,

2 enanzelela ukuhamba kwenu okuhlambulukileyo ekwesabeni.

seeing your pure behavior in fear.

3 Okuceca kwenu kakungabi ngokwangaphandle okokweluka inwele, lokokugqiza igolide, kumbe okokugqoka izembatho;

Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,

4 kodwa umuntu osithekileyo wenhliziyo, entweni engagugiyo yomoya omnene lokuthula, oligugu elikhulu phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

5 Ngoba kudala bazicecisa ngokunjalo labesifazana abangcwele ababethemba uNkulunkulu, bezehlisela ngaphansi kwawabo amadoda;

For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

6 njengoSara owamlalela uAbrahama, wambiza ngokuthi nkosi, eselingamadodakazi akhe, uba lisenza okuhle njalo lingesatshiswa langokukodwa okwesabekayo.

So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.

7 Ngokunjalo madoda, hlalisanani ngokolwazi, limhloniphe owesifazana njengesitsha esibuthakathaka, njengoba labo beyizindlalifa zomusa wempilo kanye lani, ukuze imikhuleko yenu ingavinjelwa.

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

8 Okokucina-ke, banini nhliziyonye lonke, lizwelane, lithande abazalwane, libe lobubele, lilomusa;

Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

9 lingaphindiseli okubi ngokubi, kumbe ukuthuka ngokuthuka; kodwa esikhundleni salokhu busisani, lisazi ukuthi labizelwa lokho, ukuze lidle ilifa lesibusiso.

not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

10 Ngoba lowo ofuna ukuthanda impilo, lokubona insuku ezinhle, kanqande ulimi lwakhe kokubi, lendebe zakhe ukuze zingakhulumi inkohliso;

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 kaphambuke kokubi, abesesenza okuhle; adinge ukuthula, njalo akunxwanele.

Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 Ngoba amehlo eNkosi aphezu kwabalungileyo, lendlebe zayo zingasemkhulekweni wabo; kodwa ubuso beNkosi bumelana labenza okubi.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Pho ngubani ongalilimaza, uba lingabalingisi bokuhle?

Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?

14 Kodwa uba lani lihlupheka ngenxa yokulunga, libusisiwe; njalo lingesabi ukwethusa kwabo, njalo lingakhathazeki;

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

15 kodwa ngcwelisani iNkosi uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni zenu; beselihlala lizilungisele ukuphendula wonke olibuza isizatho ngethemba elikini, kanye lobumnene lokwesaba,

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

16 lilesazela esihle, ukuze kuthi kulokho abalihleba ngakho njengabenzi bobubi bayangeke, labo abathuka ukuziphatha kwenu okuhle kuKristu.

having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

17 Ngoba kungcono ukuhlupheka lisenza okuhle, uba intando kaNkulunkulu ikuthanda, kulokuhlupheka lisenza okubi.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.

18 Ngoba loKristu wahlupheka kanye ngenxa yezono, olungileyo esikhundleni sabangalunganga, ukuze asise kuNkulunkulu; owabulawa enyameni, kodwa wenziwa waphila ngoMoya,

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

19 ayesehambe ngawo laye watshumayela kumimoya esentolongweni,

in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 eyababekade bengalaleli, lapho ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kwakukade kulindele, ensukwini zikaNowa lapho umkhumbi wawusakhiwa, okwasindiswa kuwo abalutshwana, okuyikuthi imiphefumulo eyisificaminwembili, ngamanzi.

who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through 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 baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 oseye ezulwini, ekhona ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, izingilosi leziphathamandla lamandla sekwehliselwe ngaphansi kwakhe.

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark