Ephesians 5-6

New International Version

5 ¹Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^(B) ²and 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)

³But 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. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^(I) ⁵For 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) ⁶Let no one deceive you^(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(N) comes on those who are disobedient.^(O) ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

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

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

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

Instructions for Christian Households^(AH)

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

²²Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(AJ) as you do to the Lord.^(AK) ²³For 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. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(AM) in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives,^(AN) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^(AO) ²⁶to make her holy,^(AP) cleansing^[b] her by the washing^(AQ) with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself^(AR) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^(AS) ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(AT) 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.^(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) ³²This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife^(AW) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^(AX) 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.”^[d]^(AY)

⁴Fathers,^[e] do not exasperate your children;^(AZ) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^(BA)

⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^(BB) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^(BC) just as you would obey Christ.^(BD) ⁶Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,^(BE) doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^(BF) ⁸because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(BG) 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^(BH) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(BI) with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord^(BJ) and in his mighty power.^(BK) ¹¹Put on the full armor of God,^(BL) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(BM) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(BN) against the powers^(BO) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^(BP) ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(BQ) 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,^(BR) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^(BS) ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^(BT) ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(BU) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^(BV) ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation^(BW) and the sword of the Spirit,^(BX) which is the word of God.^(BY)

¹⁸And pray in the Spirit^(BZ) on all occasions^(CA) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(CB) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(CC) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹Pray also for me,^(CD) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(CE) make known the mystery^(CF) of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador^(CG) in chains.^(CH) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹Tychicus,^(CI) 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,^(CJ) and that he may encourage you.^(CK)

²³Peace^(CL) to the brothers and sisters,^[f] 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.^[g]

Footnotes

Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5-6

English Standard Version

Walk in Love

5 ^(A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And ^(B)walk in love, ^(C)as Christ loved us and ^(D)gave himself up for us, a ^(E)fragrant ^(F)offering and sacrifice to God.

³But ^(G)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(H)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴Let there be ^(I)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(J)which are out of place, but instead ^(K)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that ^(L)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(M)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶^(N)Let no one ^(O)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(P)the wrath of God comes upon ^(Q)the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore ^(R)do not become partners with them; ⁸for ^(S)at one time you were ^(T)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(U)Walk as children of light ⁹(for ^(V)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and ^(W)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹^(X)Take no part in the ^(Y)unfruitful ^(Z)works of darkness, but instead ^(AA)expose them. ¹²For ^(AB)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³But when ^(AC)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^(AD)“Awake, O sleeper,
and ^(AE)arise from the dead,
and ^(AF)Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵^(AG)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶^(AH)making the best use of the time, because ^(AI)the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(AJ)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And ^(AK)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(AL)debauchery, but ^(AM)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹addressing one another in ^(AN)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰^(AO)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(AP)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹^(AQ)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

²²^(AR)Wives, ^(AS)submit to your own husbands, ^(AT)as to the Lord. ²³For ^(AU)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(AV)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(AW)himself its Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(AX)in everything to their husbands.

²⁵^(AY)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(AZ)gave himself up for her, ²⁶that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(BA)the washing of water ^(BB)with the word, ²⁷so ^(BC)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(BD)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^[a] ²⁸In the same way ^(BE)husbands 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 ^(BF)we are members of his body. ³¹^(BG)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(BH)the two shall become one flesh.” ³²This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³However, ^(BI)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(BJ)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(BK)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²^(BL)“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, ^(BM)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

⁵^(BN)Bondservants,^[b] obey your earthly masters^[c] with fear and trembling, ^(BO)with a sincere heart, ^(BP)as you would Christ, ⁶not by the way of eye-service, as ^(BQ)people-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, ⁸^(BR)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(BS)whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹Masters, do the same to them, ^(BT)and stop your threatening, knowing that ^(BU)he who is both their Master^[d] and yours is in heaven, and that ^(BV)there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, ^(BW)be strong in the Lord and in ^(BX)the strength of his might. ¹¹^(BY)Put on ^(BZ)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(CA)the schemes of the devil. ¹²For ^(CB)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(CC)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(CD)the cosmic powers over ^(CE)this present darkness, against ^(CF)the spiritual forces of evil ^(CG)in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore ^(CH)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(CI)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, ^(CJ)having fastened on the belt of truth, and ^(CK)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, ^(CL)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up ^(CM)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^(CN)the flaming darts of ^(CO)the evil one; ¹⁷and take ^(CP)the helmet of salvation, and ^(CQ)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying ^(CR)at all times ^(CS)in the Spirit, ^(CT)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^(CU)keep alert with all perseverance, making ^(CV)supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and ^(CW)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^(CX)boldly to proclaim ^(CY)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I ^(CZ)am an ambassador ^(DA)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

²¹^(DB)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^(DC)Tychicus 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 ^(DD)encourage your hearts.

²³^(DE)Peace be to the brothers,^[e] and ^(DF)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all who ^(DG)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Footnotes

Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless
Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord
Ephesians 6:23 Or brothers and sisters

Ephesians 5-6

New American Standard Bible

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ²and ^(B)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(C)loved ^[a]you and ^(D)gave Himself up for us, an ^(E)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[b]as a ^(F)fragrant aroma.

³But ^(G)sexual immorality ^[c]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[d]saints; ⁴and there must be no ^(H)filthiness ^[e]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(I)are not fitting, but rather ^(J)giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know with certainty, that ^(K)no sexually immoral or ^[f]impure or greedy person, which ^[g]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(L)of Christ and God.

⁶^(M)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(N)the wrath of God comes upon ^(O)the ^[h]sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not become ^(P)partners with them; ⁸for ^(Q)you were once ^(R)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(S)children of light ⁹(for ^(T)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(U)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰^[i]^(V)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹^(W)Do not participate in the useless ^(X)deeds of ^(Y)darkness, but instead even ^(Z)expose them; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things become visible ^(AA)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴For this reason ^[j]it says,

“^(AB)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from ^(AC)the dead,
And Christ ^(AD)will shine on you.”

¹⁵So then, ^[k]be careful how you ^(AE)walk, not ^(AF)as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶^[l]^(AG)making the most of your time, because ^(AH)the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(AI)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And ^(AJ)do not get drunk with wine, ^[m]in which there is ^(AK)debauchery, but be ^(AL)filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹^(AM)speaking to ^[n]one another in ^(AN)psalms and ^(AO)hymns and spiritual ^(AP)songs, ^(AQ)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ²⁰^(AR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(AS)God and Father; ²¹^[o]^(AT)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[p]^(AU)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

²²^(AV)Wives, ^(AW)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(AX)as to the Lord. ²³For ^(AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(AZ)head of the church, He Himself ^(BA)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

²⁵^(BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(BC)gave Himself up for her, ²⁶^(BD)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(BE)cleansed her by the ^(BF)washing of water with ^(BG)the word, ²⁷that He might ^(BH)present to Himself the church ^[q]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(BI)holy and blameless. ²⁸So husbands also ought to ^(BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰because we are ^(BK)parts of His ^(BL)body. ³¹^(BM)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³²This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(BN)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(BO)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(BP)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²^(BQ)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

⁴^(BR)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(BS)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵^(BT)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[r]masters according to the flesh, with ^(BU)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(BV)as to Christ; ⁶^(BW)not ^[s]by way of ^[t]eye-service, as ^(BX)people-pleasers, but as ^(BY)slaves of Christ, ^(BZ)doing the will of God from the ^[u]heart. ⁷With goodwill ^[v]render service, ^(CA)as to the Lord, and not to people, ⁸^(CB)knowing that ^(CC)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(CD)whether slave or free.

⁹And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(CE)give up threatening, knowing that ^(CF)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(CG)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, ^(CH)be strong in the Lord and in ^(CI)the strength of His might. ¹¹^(CJ)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(CK)schemes of the devil. ¹²For our ^(CL)struggle is not against ^[w]^(CM)flesh and blood, but ^(CN)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(CO)world forces of this ^(CP)darkness, against the ^(CQ)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(CR)the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore, take up ^(CS)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(CT)resist on ^(CU)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand firm therefore, ^(CV)having belted your waist with truth, and having ^(CW)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having ^(CX)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶^[x]in addition to all, taking up the ^(CY)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(CZ)flaming arrows of ^(DA)the evil one. ¹⁷And take ^(DB)the helmet of salvation and the ^(DC)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(DD)the word of God.

¹⁸^[y]With every ^(DE)prayer and request, ^[z]^(DF)pray at all times ^(DG)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[aa]^(DH)be alert with all ^(DI)perseverance and every ^(DJ)request for all the ^[ab]saints, ¹⁹and ^(DK)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ^(DL)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(DM)boldness ^(DN)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ^(DO)ambassador ^(DP)in ^[ac]chains; that ^[ad]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(DQ)boldly, ^(DR)as I ought to speak.

²¹^(DS)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to ^[ae]what I am doing, ^(DT)Tychicus, ^(DU)the beloved brother and faithful ^[af]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ²²^[ag]^(DV)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[ah]about us, and that he may ^(DW)comfort your hearts.

²³^(DX)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and ^(DY)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[ai]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

Ephesians 5:2 One early ms us
Ephesians 5:2 Lit for an odor of fragrance
Ephesians 5:3 Lit and all
Ephesians 5:3 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
Ephesians 5:4 Lit and
Ephesians 5:5 I.e., morally impure
Ephesians 5:5 Lit is
Ephesians 5:6 I.e., people opposed to God
Ephesians 5:10 Lit putting to the test what
Ephesians 5:14 Or He
Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for
Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
Ephesians 6:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss I may speak it boldly
Ephesians 6:21 Or how
Ephesians 6:21 Or minister
Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption

Ephesians 5-6

New King James Version

Walk in Love

5 Therefore^(A) be imitators of God as dear ^(B)children. ²And ^(C)walk in love, ^(D)as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ^(E)for a sweet-smelling aroma.

³But fornication and all ^(F)uncleanness or ^(G)covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴^(H)neither filthiness, nor ^(I)foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, ^(J)which are not fitting, but rather ^(K)giving of thanks. ⁵For ^[a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any ^(L)inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not be ^(M)partakers with them.

Walk in Light

⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are ^(N)light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for ^(O)the fruit of the ^[b]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰^(P)finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹And have ^(Q)no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather ^[c]expose them. ¹²^(R)For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But ^(S)all things that are ^[d]exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴Therefore He says:

^(T)“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom

¹⁵^(U)See then that you walk ^[e]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶^(V)redeeming the time, ^(W)because the days are evil.

¹⁷^(X)Therefore do not be unwise, but ^(Y)understand ^(Z)what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And ^(AA)do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another ^(AB)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making ^(AC)melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰^(AD)giving thanks always for all things to God the Father ^(AE)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹^(AF)submitting to one another in the fear of ^[f]God.

Marriage—Christ and the Church^(AG)

²²Wives, ^(AH)submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For ^(AI)the husband is head of the wife, as also ^(AJ)Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands ^(AK)in everything.

²⁵^(AL)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(AM)gave Himself for her, ²⁶that He might ^[g]sanctify and cleanse her ^(AN)with the washing of water ^(AO)by the word, ²⁷^(AP)that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, ^(AQ)not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸So husbands ought to love their own 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 the Lord does the church. ³⁰For ^(AR)we are members of His body, ^[h]of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹^(AS)“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the ^(AT)two shall become one flesh.” ³²This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³Nevertheless ^(AU)let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(AV)respects her husband.

Children and Parents^(AW)

6 Children, ^(AX)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²^(AY)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴And ^(AZ)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but ^(BA)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

⁵^(BB)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(BC)with fear and trembling, ^(BD)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶^(BE)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸^(BF)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

⁹And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^[i]your own ^(BG)Master also is in heaven, and ^(BH)there is no partiality with Him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹^(BI)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ^[j]wiles of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(BJ)principalities, against powers, against ^(BK)the rulers of ^[k]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³^(BL)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ^(BM)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, ^(BN)having girded your waist with truth, ^(BO)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵^(BP)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking ^(BQ)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷And ^(BR)take the helmet of salvation, and ^(BS)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸^(BT)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ^(BU)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ^(BV)supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ^(BW)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which ^(BX)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting

²¹But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ^(BY)Tychicus, a beloved brother and ^(BZ)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²²^(CA)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ^(CB)comfort your hearts.

²³Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Footnotes

Ephesians 5:5 NU know this
Ephesians 5:9 NU light
Ephesians 5:11 reprove
Ephesians 5:13 reproved
Ephesians 5:15 carefully
Ephesians 5:21 NU Christ
Ephesians 5:26 set it apart
Ephesians 5:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
Ephesians 6:9 NU He who is both their Master and yours is
Ephesians 6:11 schemings
Ephesians 6:12 NU this darkness,

Ephesians 5-6

The Message

Wake Up from Your Sleep

5 ^1-2Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

^3-4Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

⁵You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.

^6-7Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.

^8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

^11-16Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

¹⁷Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

^18-20Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge drafts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

Relationships

²¹Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

^22-24Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

^25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.

^29-33No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

6 ^1-3Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”

⁴Fathers, don’t frustrate your children with no-win scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.

^5-8Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

⁹Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.

A Fight to the Finish

^10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

^13-18Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

^19-20And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

^21-22Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I’m doing and how things are going with me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master! I’ve sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith.

^23-24Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.

New International Version (NIV)

Ephesians 5-6

New International Version

Instructions for Christian Households^(AH)

The Armor of God

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6

English Standard Version

Walk in Love

Wives and Husbands

Children and Parents

Bondservants and Masters

The Whole Armor of God

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6

New American Standard Bible

Be Imitators of God

Marriage like Christ and the Church

Children and Parents

Slaves and Masters

The Armor of God

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6

New King James Version

Walk in Love

Walk in Light

Walk in Wisdom

Marriage—Christ and the Church^(AG)

Children and Parents^(AW)

Bondservants and Masters

The Whole Armor of God

A Gracious Greeting

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6

The Message

Wake Up from Your Sleep

Relationships

A Fight to the Finish

More on the NIV

Ephesians 5-6 New International Version

Instructions for Christian Households(AH)

The Armor of God

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6 English Standard Version

Walk in Love

Wives and Husbands

Children and Parents

Bondservants and Masters

The Whole Armor of God

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6 New American Standard Bible

Be Imitators of God

Marriage like Christ and the Church

Children and Parents

Slaves and Masters

The Armor of God

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6 New King James Version

Walk in Love

Walk in Light

Walk in Wisdom

Marriage—Christ and the Church(AG)

Children and Parents(AW)

Bondservants and Masters

The Whole Armor of God

A Gracious Greeting

Footnotes

Cross references

Ephesians 5-6 The Message

Wake Up from Your Sleep

Relationships

A Fight to the Finish

More on the NIV

Ephesians 5-6

New International Version

Instructions for Christian Households^(AH)

Ephesians 5-6

English Standard Version

Ephesians 5-6

New American Standard Bible

Ephesians 5-6

New King James Version

Marriage—Christ and the Church^(AG)

Children and Parents^(AW)

Ephesians 5-6

The Message