Ephesians 5:1-17

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.