¹³ And you also were included in Christ^(A) when you heard the message of truth,^(B) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(C) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(D) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(E) until the redemption^(F) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(G)

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(A) with whom you were sealed^(B) for the day of redemption.^{(C) 31} Get rid of^(D) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^(E)

²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(A) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(B) those who believe.^{(C) 22} Jews demand signs^(D) and Greeks look for wisdom,

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(A) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(B) you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(C) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.

⁷ King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled^(A) him on the pole he set up. ⁸ Now write another decree^(B) in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal^(C) it with the king’s signet ring^(D)—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”^(E)

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(A) 64} So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body^(B) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,”^(C) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal^(D) on the stone^(E) and posting the guard.^(F)

²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(A) groan^(B) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(C) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^(D)

¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine,^(A) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(B) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(C) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(D) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households^(E)

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

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(G) as you do to the Lord.^{(H) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(I) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(J) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(K) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(L) 26} to make her holy,^(M) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(N) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(O) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(P) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(Q) 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.^{(R) 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.”^{[b](S) 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^(T) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^{(U) 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.”^[c](V)

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

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^(Y) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^(Z) just as you would obey Christ.^{(AA) 6} Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,^(AB) doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^{(AC) 8} because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(AD) whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^(AE) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(AF) with him.