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Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New International Version
Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New International Version
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(B) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(C) and separated from the life of God(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(E) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(F) they have given themselves over(G) to sensuality(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(I) your old self,(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(K) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(L) 24 and to put on(M) the new self,(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(O)
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(P) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(Q) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(R) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(S) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(T) doing something useful with their own hands,(U) that they may have something to share with those in need.(V)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(W) but only what is helpful for building others up(X) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(Y) with whom you were sealed(Z) for the day of redemption.(AA) 31 Get rid of(AB) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(AC) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(AD) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(AE) 5 1 Follow God’s example,(AF) therefore, as dearly loved children(AG) 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(AH) and gave himself up for us(AI) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(AJ)
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(AK) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(AL) because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(AM) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(AN) 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(AO)—has any inheritance(AP) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[b](AQ) 6 Let no one deceive you(AR) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(AS) comes on those who are disobedient.(AT) 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once(AU) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(AV) 9 (for the fruit(AW) of the light consists in all goodness,(AX) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(AY) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(AZ) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(BA) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live(BE)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(BF) because the days are evil.(BG) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(BH) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(BI) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(BJ) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(BK) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(BL) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households(BM)
21 Submit to one another(BN) out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(BO) as you do to the Lord.(BP) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(BQ) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(BR) in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives,(BS) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(BT) 26 to make her holy,(BU) cleansing[c] her by the washing(BV) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(BW) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(BX) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(BY) 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.(BZ) 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.”[d](CA) 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(CB) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(CC) 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.”[e](CD)
4 Fathers,[f] do not exasperate your children;(CE) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(CF)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(CG) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(CH) just as you would obey Christ.(CI) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(CJ) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(CK) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(CL) 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(CM) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(CN) with him.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
- Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
- Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
- Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
- Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
- Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
Ephesians 4:17-6:9
King James Version
Ephesians 4:17-6:9
King James Version
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
New International Version (NIV) 
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