Ephesians 5–6

5Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; ²and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

³But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; ⁴nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them; ⁸for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; ¹¹and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; ¹²for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. ¹³But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

¹⁵Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; ²¹subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

²²Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. ²⁴But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; ²⁶that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: ²⁹for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; ³⁰because we are members of his body. ³¹For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. ³²This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. ³³Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

6Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ²Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), ³that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. ⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.

⁵Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: ⁸knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²²whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.

²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.