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Ephesians 5:18-6:24
Revised Standard Version
Ephesians 5:18-6:24
Revised Standard Version
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
The Christian Household
21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; 33 however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; 6 not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants[a] of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Personal Matters and Benediction
21 Now that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tych′icus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:6 Or slaves
Ephesians 5:18-6:24
New International Version
Ephesians 5:18-6:24
New International Version
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.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(AG) and in his mighty power.(AH) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(AI) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(AJ) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(AK) against the powers(AL) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(AM) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(AN) 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,(AO) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(AP) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(AQ) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(AR) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(AS) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(AT) and the sword of the Spirit,(AU) which is the word of God.(AV)
18 And pray in the Spirit(AW) on all occasions(AX) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(AY) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(AZ) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(BA) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(BB) make known the mystery(BC) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(BD) in chains.(BE) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus,(BF) 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,(BG) and that he may encourage you.(BH)
23 Peace(BI) 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
- Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
- Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
- 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.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.