Wives and Husbands (Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)
1 ULT Similarly, wives, be subjected to your own husbands so that even if some are being disobedient to the word, they will be won without a word through the behavior of their wives, 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 ULT having observed your pure behavior with fear, BSB BSB: when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
3 ULT whose adornment let be not the outward braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or wearing of fine clothing, BSB BSB: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4 ULT but the hidden man of the heart, in the imperishable thing of the gentle and quiet spirit, which is very 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 ULT For in this manner also the holy women, the ones hoping in God, formerly adorned themselves, being subjected to their own 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 ULT like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him“lord,” whose children you have become, doing what is good and not being afraid of any terror. 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 ULT Husbands, similarly, live with the female according to knowledge, as with a weaker container, assigning honor as also fellow heirs of the grace of life, 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 ULT Now finally, everyone{ be} likeminded, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, humble; BSB BSB: Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
9 ULT not paying back evil in exchange for evil or insult in exchange for insult, but on the contrary, blessing, because to this you were called so 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 ULT For,“Let the one wanting to love life and to see good days stop his tongue from evil, and his lips not to speak 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 ULT But let him turn away from evil and let him do good. Let him seek peace and let him pursue it, BSB BSB: He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 ULT for the eyes of the Lord{ are} on righteous ones, and his ears{ are} toward their request, but the face of the Lord{ is} against those doing 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 ULT And who{ is} the one who will harm you if you become zealous ones of the good? BSB BSB: Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
Suffering for Righteousness 14 ULT But even if you might suffer because of righteousness,{ you are} blessed ones. But you should not fear the fear of them nor 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 ULT but with meekness and fear, having a good conscience so that, in what you are being slandered, the ones reviling your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed. BSB BSB: keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
17 ULT For{ it is} better to suffer doing good, if the will of God wills, than doing evil. BSB BSB: For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 ULT For Christ also suffered once for sins— righteous on behalf of unrighteous— so that he might bring you to God, having indeed been killed in flesh, but having been made alive in 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 ULT which,{ being} an antitype, now saves you also, baptism— not a removal of dirt from the flesh, but an 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 ULT who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected 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.