Ephesians 5:1–6:24
5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us,al a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immoralityam and any impurityan or greedao should not even be heard ofO among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoralap or impureaq or greedyar person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdomas of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrathat is coming on the disobedientP because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are lightau in the Lord. Walk as children of lightav—9 for the fruit of the lightQ consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truthaw—10 testingax what is pleasingay to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitlessaz works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible,a 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper,b and rise up from the dead,c
and Christ will shine on you.d
CONSISTENCY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time,A,e because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understandf what the Lord’s willg is. 18 And don’t get drunkh with wine,i which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:j 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.k
22 Wives,l submitB,m to your husbandsn as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wifeo as Christ is the headp of the church. He is the Savior of the body.q 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives,r just as Christ loveds the church and gave himselft for her 26 to make her holy, cleansingC her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.u 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of his body.D 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,v and the two will become one flesh.E,w 32 This mysteryx is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
6 Children, obeyy your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.F,G,z 4 Fathers, don’t stir up angeraa in your children, but bring them up in the trainingab and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your humanH mastersac with fear and trembling,ad in the sincerityae of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s willaf from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,ag 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 threateningah them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritismai with him.aj
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.ak 11 Put onal the full armoram of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against fleshan and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,ao against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,ap spiritual forces in the heavens.aq 13 For this reason take up the full armorar of God, so that you may be able to resistas in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,at therefore, with truthau like a belt around your waist, righteousnessav like armor on your chest,aw 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shieldax of faithay with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.az 17 Take the helmetba of salvation and the swordbb of the Spiritbc—which is the word of God. 18 Praybd at all times in the Spiritbe with every prayer and request, and stay alertbf with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldnessbg the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassadora in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
21 Tychicus,b our dearly loved brother and faithful servantA in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encouragec your hearts.d
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Fathere and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.B,C