Ephesians 5–6

Walk in Love

5^jTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And ^kwalk in love, ^las Christ loved us and ^mgave himself up for us, a ⁿfragrant ^ooffering and sacrifice to God.

³But ^psexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^qmust not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴Let there be ^rno filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^swhich are out of place, but instead ^tlet there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that ^ueveryone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^vthat is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6wLet no one ^xdeceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^ythe wrath of God comes upon ^zthe sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore ^ado not become partners with them; ⁸for ^bat one time you were ^cdarkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^dWalk as children of light ⁹(for ^ethe fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and ^ftry to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11gTake no part in the ^hunfruitful ⁱworks of darkness, but instead ^jexpose them. ¹²For ^kit is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³But when ^lanything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^m“Awake, O sleeper,

and ⁿarise from the dead,

and ^oChrist will shine on you.”

^15pLook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16pmaking the best use of the time, because ^qthe days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^rthe will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And ^sdo not get drunk with wine, for that is ^tdebauchery, but ^ube filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹addressing one another in ^vpsalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20wgiving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^xin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21ysubmitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22zWives, ^asubmit to your own husbands, ^bas to the Lord. ²³For ^cthe husband is the head of the wife even as ^dChrist is the head of the church, his body, and is ^ehimself its Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^fin everything to their husbands.

^25gHusbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^hgave himself up for her, ²⁶that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ⁱthe washing of water ^jwith the word, ²⁷so ^kthat he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^lwithout spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{1 28}In the same way ^mhusbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰because ⁿwe are members of his body. ^31o“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^pthe two shall become one flesh.” ³²This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³However, ^qlet each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^rrespects her husband.

Children and Parents

6^sChildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2t“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, ^ubut bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5vBondservants,¹ obey your earthly masters² with fear and trembling, ^wwith a sincere heart, ^xas you would Christ, ⁶not by the way of eye-service, as ^ypeople-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8zknowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^awhether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹Masters, do the same to them, ^band stop your threatening, knowing that ^che who is both their Master⁴ and yours is in heaven, and that ^dthere is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, ^ebe strong in the Lord and in ^fthe strength of his might. ^11gPut on ^hthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ⁱthe schemes of the devil. ¹²For ^jwe do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^kthe rulers, against the authorities, against ^lthe cosmic powers over ^mthis present darkness, against ⁿthe spiritual forces of evil ^oin the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore ^ptake up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^qthe evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, ^rhaving fastened on the belt of truth, and ^shaving put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, ^tas shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up ^uthe shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^vthe flaming darts of ^wthe evil one; ¹⁷and take ^sthe helmet of salvation, and ^xthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying ^yat all times ^zin the Spirit, ^awith all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^bkeep alert with all perseverance, making ^csupplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and ^dalso for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^eboldly to proclaim ^fthe mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I ^gam an ambassador ^hin chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

²¹ⁱSo that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^jTychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²²I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may ^kencourage your hearts.

^23lPeace be to the brothers,⁵ and ^mlove with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all who ⁿlove our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.