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Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,

and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,

and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;

for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,

become not, then, partakers with them,

for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,

for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,

10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,

11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,

12 for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,

13 and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;

14 wherefore he saith, `Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'

15 See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil;

17 because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what [is] the will of the Lord,

18 and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,

19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

20 giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father;

21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,

23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body,

24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also [are] the wives to their own husbands in everything.

25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,

26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying,

27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;

28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love;

29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,

30 because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;

31 `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;'

32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;

33 but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.

Follow God’s example,(A) therefore, as dearly loved children(B) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(C) and gave himself up for us(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(E)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(I) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(J)—has any inheritance(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](L) Let no one deceive you(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(N) comes on those who are disobedient.(O) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(Q) (for the fruit(R) of the light consists in all goodness,(S) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(T) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(U) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,(W)
    rise from the dead,(X)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(Y)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(Z)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(AA) because the days are evil.(AB) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(AC) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(AD) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(AE) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(AF) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(AG) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(AH)

21 Submit to one another(AI) out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(AJ) as you do to the Lord.(AK) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(AL) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(AM) in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,(AN) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(AO) 26 to make her holy,(AP) cleansing[b] her by the washing(AQ) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(AR) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(AS) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(AT) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(AU) 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.”[c](AV) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(AW) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
  2. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  3. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24