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Ephesians 5:15-6:24
New American Standard Bible

15 So then, [a]be careful how you (A)walk, not (B)as unwise people but as wise, 16 [b](C)making the most of your time, because (D)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (E)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (F)do not get drunk with wine, [c]in which there is (G)debauchery, but be (H)filled with the Spirit, 19 (I)speaking to [d]one another in (J)psalms and (K)hymns and spiritual (L)songs, (M)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (N)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (O)God and Father; 21 [e](P)and subject yourselves to one another in the [f](Q)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

22 (R)Wives, (S)subject yourselves to your own husbands, (T)as to the Lord. 23 For (U)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (V)head of the church, He Himself (W)being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 (X)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (Y)gave Himself up for her, 26 (Z)so that He might sanctify her, having (AA)cleansed her by the (AB)washing of water with (AC)the word, 27 that He might (AD)present to Himself the church [g]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (AE)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to (AF)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are (AG)parts of His (AH)body. 31 (AI)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to (AJ)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (AK)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 (AL)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (AM)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

4 (AN)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but (AO)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 (AP)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [h]masters according to the flesh, with (AQ)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (AR)as to Christ; 6 (AS)not [i]by way of [j]eye-service, as (AT)people-pleasers, but as (AU)slaves of Christ, (AV)doing the will of God from the [k]heart. 7 With goodwill [l]render service, (AW)as to the Lord, and not to people, 8 (AX)knowing that (AY)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (AZ)whether slave or free.

9 And masters, do the same things to them, and (BA)give up threatening, knowing that (BB)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (BC)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, (BD)be strong in the Lord and in (BE)the strength of His might. 11 (BF)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (BG)schemes of the devil. 12 For our (BH)struggle is not against [m](BI)flesh and blood, but (BJ)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (BK)world forces of this (BL)darkness, against the (BM)spiritual forces of wickedness in (BN)the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up (BO)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (BP)resist on (BQ)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, (BR)having belted your waist with truth, and having (BS)put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having (BT)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [n]in addition to all, taking up the (BU)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (BV)flaming arrows of (BW)the evil one. 17 And take (BX)the helmet of salvation and the (BY)sword of the Spirit, which is (BZ)the word of God.

18 [o]With every (CA)prayer and request, [p](CB)pray at all times (CC)in the Spirit, and with this in view, [q](CD)be alert with all (CE)perseverance and every (CF)request for all the [r]saints, 19 and (CG)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me (CH)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (CI)boldness (CJ)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an (CK)ambassador (CL)in [s]chains; that [t]in proclaiming it I may speak (CM)boldly, (CN)as I ought to speak.

21 (CO)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [u]what I am doing, (CP)Tychicus, (CQ)the beloved brother and faithful [v]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [w](CR)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [x]about us, and that he may (CS)comfort your hearts.

23 (CT)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and (CU)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [y]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
  2. Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
  3. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  4. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  5. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
  6. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for
  7. Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
  8. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  9. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  10. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  11. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  12. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
  13. Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
  14. Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
  15. Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
  16. Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
  17. Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
  18. Ephesians 6:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  19. Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
  20. Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss I may speak it boldly
  21. Ephesians 6:21 Or how
  22. Ephesians 6:21 Or minister
  23. Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
  24. Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
  25. Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption
Listen to Ephesians 5:15-6:24, Colossians 1:1-23
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Ephesians 5:15-6:24
New International Version

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(A)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(B) because the days are evil.(C) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(D) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(E) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(F) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(G) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(H) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(I)

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

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(K) as you do to the Lord.(L) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(M) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(N) in everything.

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

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(Y) 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](Z)

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

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(AC) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(AD) just as you would obey Christ.(AE) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(AF) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(AG) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(AH) 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(AI) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(AJ) with him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(AK) and in his mighty power.(AL) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(AM) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(AN) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(AO) against the powers(AP) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(AQ) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(AR) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(AS) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(AT) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(AU) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(AV) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(AW) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(AX) and the sword of the Spirit,(AY) which is the word of God.(AZ)

18 And pray in the Spirit(BA) on all occasions(BB) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(BC) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(BD) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(BE) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(BF) make known the mystery(BG) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(BH) in chains.(BI) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus,(BJ) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(BK) and that he may encourage you.(BL)

23 Peace(BM) to the brothers and sisters,[e] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[f]

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  2. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
  3. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
  4. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
  5. Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  6. Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 4
Philippians 1
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Colossians 1:1-23
New American Standard Bible

Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

1 (A)Paul, (B)an apostle of Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God, and (D)Timothy [b]our brother,

2 To the [c](E)saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: (F)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 (G)We [d]give thanks to God, (H)the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 (I)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the (J)love which you have [e]for (K)all the [f]saints; 5 because of the (L)hope (M)reserved for you in [g]heaven, of which you previously (N)heard in the word of truth, [h]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [i](O)in all the world also it is bearing (P)fruit and [j]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you (Q)heard it and [k]understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from (R)Epaphras, our (S)beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your (T)love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason we also, (U)since the day we heard about it, (V)have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the [l](W)knowledge of His will in all spiritual (X)wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will (Y)walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [m](Z)to please Him in all respects, (AA)bearing fruit in every good work and [n]increasing in the [o]knowledge of God; 11 (AB)strengthened with all power, according to [p]His glorious might, [q]for the attaining of all perseverance and [r]patience; (AC)joyously 12 giving thanks to (AD)the Father, who has qualified us [s]to share in (AE)the inheritance of the [t]saints in (AF)light.

The Incomparable Christ

13 [u]For He rescued us from the [v](AG)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [w](AH)His beloved Son, 14 (AI)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 [x]He is the (AJ)image of the (AK)invisible God, the (AL)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [y](AM)by Him all things were created, (AN)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (AO)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(AP)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [z](AQ)is before all things, and in Him all things [aa]hold together. 18 He is also the (AR)head of (AS)the body, the church; and He is (AT)the beginning, (AU)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [ab]it was (AV)the Father’s good pleasure for all (AW)the [ac]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (AX)reconcile all things to Himself, (AY)whether things on earth or things in [ad]heaven, having made (AZ)peace through (BA)the blood of His cross.

21 And although you were (BB)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (BC)reconciled you in His (BD)body of flesh through death, in order to (BE)present you before Him (BF)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [ae]the faith firmly (BG)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (BH)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (BI)in all creation under heaven, (BJ)and of which I, Paul, [af]was made a [ag](BK)minister.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:1 Lit through
  2. Colossians 1:1 Lit the
  3. Colossians 1:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. Colossians 1:3 Or always give...praying for you
  5. Colossians 1:4 Or toward
  6. Colossians 1:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  7. Colossians 1:5 Lit the heavens
  8. Colossians 1:5 Or of the gospel
  9. Colossians 1:6 Or it is in all the world also, bearing
  10. Colossians 1:6 Or spreading abroad
  11. Colossians 1:6 Or came to fully know
  12. Colossians 1:9 Or real knowledge
  13. Colossians 1:10 Lit unto all pleasing
  14. Colossians 1:10 Or growing by the knowledge
  15. Colossians 1:10 Or real knowledge
  16. Colossians 1:11 Lit the might of His glory
  17. Colossians 1:11 Lit unto all
  18. Colossians 1:11 Or patience with joy
  19. Colossians 1:12 Lit unto the portion of
  20. Colossians 1:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  21. Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
  22. Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
  23. Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
  24. Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
  25. Colossians 1:16 Or in
  26. Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
  27. Colossians 1:17 Or endure
  28. Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
  29. Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
  30. Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
  31. Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
  32. Colossians 1:23 Lit became
  33. Colossians 1:23 Or servant
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Colossians 1:1-23
New International Version

1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:

Grace(D) and peace to you from God our Father.[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God,(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love(G) you have for all God’s people(H)— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope(I) stored up for you in heaven(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message(K) of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(L) and growing throughout the whole world(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras,(N) our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister(O) of Christ on our[d] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.(P)

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e](T) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(U) of the Lord and please him(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(W) 11 being strengthened with all power(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(Y) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(Z) who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(AB) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(AC) and brought us into the kingdom(AD) of the Son he loves,(AE) 14 in whom we have redemption,(AF) the forgiveness of sins.(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(AH) of the invisible God,(AI) the firstborn(AJ) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.(AM) 17 He is before all things,(AN) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(AO) of the body, the church;(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn(AQ) from among the dead,(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(AS) to have all his fullness(AT) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(AV) by making peace(AW) through his blood,(AX) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(AY) in your minds(AZ) because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(BA) you by Christ’s physical body(BB) through death to present you(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(BD)— 23 if you continue(BE) in your faith, established(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(BI)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  4. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your
  5. Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
  6. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
  7. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by
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Philippians 4
Colossians 2
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