Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality(B) and any impurity(C) or greed(D) should not even be heard of[a] among you, as is proper for saints. Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral(E) or impure(F) or greedy(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom(H) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.[b] Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light(J) in the Lord. Walk as children of light(K) for the fruit of the light[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth(L) 10 discerning(M) what is pleasing(N) to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless(O) works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,(P) 14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper,(Q) and rise up from the dead,(R)
and the Messiah will shine on you.[d](S)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:3 Or be named
  2. Ephesians 5:6 Lit sons of disobedience
  3. Ephesians 5:9 Other mss read fruit of the Spirit
  4. Ephesians 5:14 This poem may have been an early Christian hymn based on several passages in Isaiah; Is 9:2; 26:19; 40:1; 51:17; 52:1; 60:1.

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God