Wives and Husbands (Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)
1 UST In a similar way, you women{ who are believers}, submit to your husbands.{ Do this} in order that you may persuade any husbands who do not believe the message{ about the Messiah} to become believers without you saying anything to them. 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 UST { They will believe in the Messiah} because they see that you behave sincerely and{ act} reverently{ toward them}. BSB BSB: when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
3 UST Do not make the outside of your bodies beautiful by having fancy hairstyles or by wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. BSB BSB: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4 UST Instead, make your unseen mind beautiful in a way that will never fade. I mean, have a humble and peaceful attitude. This is something that God values very much. 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 UST { Do this} because this is the way that the women who lived holy lives long ago made themselves beautiful. They trusted in God and submitted 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 UST Sarah, for example, obeyed her husband Abraham and called him{ her} master. God will consider you to be her daughters if you do good deeds and are not afraid of anything terrible happening to you. 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 UST You men{ who are believers}, in a similar way, dwell together with your wives in an understanding manner.{ Treat them} as{ you would treat} someone who is weaker{ than you are}. Honor them as those who will also receive God’ s gracious gift with you, which is eternal life.{ Do this} so that nothing will hinder you from praying. 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 UST To end{ this part of my letter},{ I say to} all of you, have the same mindset{ among yourselves}. Be sympathetic{ toward each other}. Love each other as fellow believers. Act compassionately{ toward each other}. Be humble. BSB BSB: Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
9 UST When people do evil things to you or insult you, do not do the same to them. Instead, bless them, because that is what God has chosen you to do in order that he may bless you. 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 UST { We know that this is true} because,{ as David wrote,}“As for those who truly want to enjoy good lives, they must not say evil things or speak deceitful things. BSB BSB: For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 UST They must also refuse to do evil, and do what is good{ instead}. They must diligently strive to have peaceful relationships with other people. BSB BSB: He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 UST { They must do these things,} because the Lord watches over righteous people. He listens{ and responds} to the prayers of righteous people, but he opposes people 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 UST It is unlikely that anyone 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 UST However, even if you suffer because you did what was right, God will bless you.“Do not be afraid of or troubled by the things that other people fear.” 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 UST But{ answer them} humbly and reverently, while not doing any wicked thing, in order that God may shame those who despise the good things you do as people united with the Messiah.{ God will shame them} regarding the very things they are speaking falsely against you. BSB BSB: keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
17 UST { Do these things} because, if God wants{ you to suffer}, it is better for you to suffer because you did what is good than{ to suffer} because you did what is evil. BSB BSB: For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 UST { This is true} because the Messiah also suffered.{ He suffered} one time for the sake of{ other people’ s} sins. He was a righteous person{ who died} for the benefit of unrighteous people.{ He died} in order to enable you to be with God. Although people killed him, God’ s Spirit caused him to become alive again. 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 UST That water is a symbol that represents the baptism which now saves you.{ This baptism} does not wash dirt off of your bodies. Instead, it shows that we are asking God to assure us that he has forgiven our sins.{ This baptism saves you} by means of God having caused Jesus the Messiah to become alive again. 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 UST After God caused every evil and powerful spirit to submit to him, the Messiah went to heaven, where he is at the place of highest honor next to God. 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.