Ephesians 6

New International Version

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^(A) 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.”^[a]^(B)

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

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

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

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord^(M) and in his mighty power.^(N) ¹¹Put on the full armor of God,^(O) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(P) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(Q) against the powers^(R) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^(S) ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(T) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(U) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^(V) ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^(W) ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(X) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^(Y) ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation^(Z) and the sword of the Spirit,^(AA) which is the word of God.^(AB)

¹⁸And pray in the Spirit^(AC) on all occasions^(AD) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(AE) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(AF) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹Pray also for me,^(AG) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(AH) make known the mystery^(AI) of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador^(AJ) in chains.^(AK) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹Tychicus,^(AL) 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. ²²I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(AM) and that he may encourage you.^(AN)

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

Footnotes

Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
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.
Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 91

New International Version

Psalm 91

¹Whoever dwells in the shelter^(A) of the Most High
will rest in the shadow^(B) of the Almighty.^[a]
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge^(C) and my fortress,^(D)
my God, in whom I trust.”

³Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare^(E)
    and from the deadly pestilence.^(F)
⁴He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;^(G)
    his faithfulness will be your shield^(H) and rampart.
⁵You will not fear^(I) the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.^(J)

⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm^(K) will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For he will command his angels^(L) concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;^(M)
¹²they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.^(N)
¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.^(O)

¹⁴“Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.^(P)
¹⁶With long life^(Q) I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.^(R)”