Ephesians 4:17-5:21
New American Standard Bible
The Christian’s Walk
17 (A)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, (B)that you are to no longer walk just as the [a]Gentiles also walk, in the (C)futility of their minds, 18 being (D)darkened in their understanding, [b](E)excluded from the life of God because of the (F)ignorance that is in them, because of the (G)hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having (H)become callous, (I)have given themselves up to (J)indecent behavior [c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not (K)learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you (L)have heard Him and have (M)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to (N)rid yourselves of the (O)old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (P)lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be (Q)renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to (R)put on the (S)new [e]self, which [f](T)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, (U)ridding yourselves of falsehood, (V)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are (W)parts of one another. 26 (X)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (Y)give the devil [g]an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather (Z)he must labor, (AA)producing with his own hands what is good, (AB)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no [h](AC)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for (AD)edification [i]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (AE)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [j]by whom you were (AF)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (AG)All bitterness, wrath, anger, [k]clamor, and slander must be (AH)removed from you, along with all (AI)malice. 32 (AJ)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, (AK)just as God in Christ also has forgiven [l]you.
Be Imitators of God
5 (AL)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (AM)walk in love, just as Christ also (AN)loved [m]you and (AO)gave Himself up for us, an (AP)offering and a sacrifice to God [n]as a (AQ)fragrant aroma.
3 But (AR)sexual immorality [o]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among [p]saints; 4 and there must be no (AS)filthiness [q]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which (AT)are not fitting, but rather (AU)giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that (AV)no sexually immoral or [r]impure or greedy person, which [s]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (AW)of Christ and God.
6 (AX)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things (AY)the wrath of God comes upon (AZ)the [t]sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become (BA)partners with them; 8 for (BB)you were once (BC)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as (BD)children of light 9 (for (BE)the fruit of the light consists in all (BF)goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [u](BG)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (BH)Do not participate in the useless (BI)deeds of (BJ)darkness, but instead even (BK)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (BL)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [v]it says,
15 So then, [w]be careful how you (BP)walk, not (BQ)as unwise people but as wise, 16 [x](BR)making the most of your time, because (BS)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (BT)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (BU)do not get drunk with wine, [y]in which there is (BV)debauchery, but be (BW)filled with the Spirit, 19 (BX)speaking to [z]one another in (BY)psalms and (BZ)hymns and spiritual (CA)songs, (CB)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (CC)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (CD)God and Father; 21 [aa](CE)and subject yourselves to one another in the [ab](CF)fear of Christ.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:17 I.e., unbelieving Gentiles
- Ephesians 4:18 Or alienated
- Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
- Ephesians 4:22 Lit person
- Ephesians 4:24 Lit person
- Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
- Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
- Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
- Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need
- Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
- Ephesians 4:31 Or shouting
- Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss us
- 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
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
