Wives and Husbands (Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)
1 UEB 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. BSB BSB: Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
2 UEB For they will have seen your sincere behavior with respect. BSB BSB: when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
3 UEB Let it be done not with outward ornaments such as braided hair, jewels of gold, or fashionable clothing. BSB BSB: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4 UEB 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. BSB BSB: but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
5 UEB For this is how holy women long ago who hoped in God adorned themselves, by submitting to their husbands. BSB BSB: For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,
6 UEB 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. BSB BSB: just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.
7 UEB 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. BSB BSB: Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Turning from Evil 8 UEB Finally, all of you, be likeminded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, and humble. BSB BSB: Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
9 UEB 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. BSB BSB: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 UEB "The one who wants to love life and see good days should stop his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. BSB BSB: For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 UEB Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. BSB BSB: He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 UEB 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." BSB BSB: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 UEB Who is the one who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? BSB BSB: Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
Suffering for Righteousness 14 UEB But if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be troubled. BSB BSB: But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
16 UEB 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. BSB BSB: keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
17 UEB It is better, if God desires, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil. BSB BSB: For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 UEB 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. BSB BSB: For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
21 UEB 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. BSB BSB: And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 UEB Christ is at the right hand of God. He went into heaven. Angels, authorities, and powers must submit to him. BSB BSB: who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.