Ephesians 6:1–18

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey r your parents as you would the Lord, s because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment t with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. u v w 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger x in your children, but bring them up in the training y and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 * Slaves, obey your human z masters a with fear and trembling, b in the sincerity c of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will d from your heart. e 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, f 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening g them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism h with Him. i

Christian Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. j 11 Put on k the full armor l of God so that you can stand against the tactics m of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh n and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, o against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil p in the heavens. q 13 This is why you must take up the full armor r of God, so that you may be able to resist s in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, t therefore,

with truth u like a belt around your waist,

righteousness v like armor on your chest, w

15 and your feet sandaled with readiness

for the gospel of peace. x

16 In every situation take the shield y of faith, z

and with it you will be able to extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one. a

17 Take the helmet b of salvation,

and the sword c of the Spirit, d

which is God’s word.

18 Pray e at all times in the Spirit f with every prayer and request, and stay alert g in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the * saints.