Ephesians 5–6

5Follow God’s example,^k therefore, as dearly loved children^{l 2}and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^m and gave himself up for usⁿ as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^o

³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^p or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^q because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^r or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^{s 5}For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^t—has any inheritance^u in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{av 6}Let no one deceive you^w with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^x comes on those who are disobedient.^{y 7}Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸For you were once^z darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^{a 9}(for the fruit^b of the light consists in all goodness,^c righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord.^{d 11}Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^e but rather expose them. ¹²It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light^f becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,^g

rise from the dead,^h

and Christ will shine on you.”ⁱ

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live^j—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity,^k because the days are evil.^{l 17}Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{m 18}Do not get drunk on wine,ⁿ which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{o 19}speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^p Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks^q to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households

5:22–6:9pp—Col 3:18–4:1

²¹Submit to one another^r out of reverence for Christ.

²²Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^s as you do to the Lord.^{t 23}For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^u his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^v in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives,^w just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{x 26}to make her holy,^y cleansing^b her by the washing^z with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself^a as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{b 28}In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^c as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—³⁰for we are members of his body.^{d 31}“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{ce 32}This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife^f as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^{g 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 enjoy long life on the earth.”^ah

⁴Fathers,^b do not exasperate your children;ⁱ instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^j

⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^k and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^l just as you would obey Christ.^{m 6}Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,ⁿ doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^{o 8}because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^p whether they are slave or free.

⁹And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^q is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^r with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord^s and in his mighty power.^{t 11}Put on the full armor of God,^u so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^v but against the rulers, against the authorities,^w against the powers^x of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{y 13}Therefore put on the full armor of God,^z so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^a with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{b 15}and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{c 16}In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^d with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{e 17}Take the helmet of salvation^f and the sword of the Spirit,^g which is the word of God.^h

¹⁸And pray in the Spiritⁱ on all occasions^j with all kinds of prayers and requests.^k With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^l for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹Pray also for me,^m that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlesslyⁿ make known the mystery^o of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador^p in chains.^q Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹Tychicus,^r the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²²I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^s and that he may encourage you.^t

²³Peace^u to the brothers and sisters,^c and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^d