Ephesians 5:1–20

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, ²and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us,^al a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³But sexual immorality^am and any impurity^an or greed^ao should not even be heard of^A among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^ap or impure^aq or greedy^ar person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^as of Christ and of God.

LIGHT VERSUS DARKNESS

⁶Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^at is coming on the disobedient^B because of these things. ⁷Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light^au in the Lord. Walk as children of light^av—⁹for the fruit of the light^C consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth^aw—¹⁰testing^ax what is pleasing^ay to the Lord. ¹¹Don’t participate in the fruitless^az works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³Everything 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

¹⁵Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—¹⁶making the most of the time,^De because the days are evil. ¹⁷So don’t be foolish, but understand^f what the Lord’s will^g is. ¹⁸And don’t get drunk^h 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, ²⁰giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,