25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(A) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(B) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(C) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(D) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(E) doing something useful with their own hands,(F) that they may have something to share with those in need.(G)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(H) but only what is helpful for building others up(I) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(J) with whom you were sealed(K) for the day of redemption.(L) 31 Get rid of(M) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(N) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(O) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

25 Therefore, putting away lying, (A)Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for (B)we are members of one another. 26 (C)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 (D)nor give [a]place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather (E)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something (F)to give him who has need. 29 (G)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but (H)what is good for necessary [b]edification, (I)that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And (J)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (K)Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [c]clamor, and (L)evil speaking be put away from you, (M)with all malice. 32 And (N)be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (O)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:27 an opportunity
  2. Ephesians 4:29 building up
  3. Ephesians 4:31 loud quarreling

25 Therefore, (A)ridding yourselves of falsehood, (B)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are (C)parts of one another. 26 (D)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (E)give the devil [a]an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather (F)he must labor, (G)producing with his own hands what is good, (H)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no [b](I)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for (J)edification [c]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (K)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [d]by whom you were (L)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (M)All bitterness, wrath, anger, [e]clamor, and slander must be (N)removed from you, along with all (O)malice. 32 (P)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, (Q)just as God in Christ also has forgiven [f]you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
  2. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  3. Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need
  4. Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
  5. Ephesians 4:31 Or shouting
  6. Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss us

25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.

29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.

31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Read full chapter