Wives and Husbands (Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)
1 RV In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour 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 RV beholding your chaste behaviour coupled with fear. BSB BSB: when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
3 RV Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; BSB BSB: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4 RV but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 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 RV For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection 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 RV as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by 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 RV Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not 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 RV Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded: BSB BSB: Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
9 RV not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should 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 RV For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: BSB BSB: For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 RV And let him turn away from evil, and do 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 RV For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that 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 RV And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good? BSB BSB: Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
Suffering for Righteousness 14 RV But and if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye : and fear not their fear, neither 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 RV having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. BSB BSB: keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
17 RV For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. BSB BSB: For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 RV Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in 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 RV which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward 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 RV who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto 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.