25 (A)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (B)gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (C)the washing of water (D)with the word, 27 so (E)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, (F)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way (G)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because (H)we are members of his body. 31 (I)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and (J)the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, (K)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (L)respects her husband.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless

25 Husbands, love your wives,(A) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(B) 26 to make her holy,(C) cleansing[a] her by the washing(D) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(E) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(F) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(G) 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.(H) 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](I) 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(J) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  2. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24

Wives and Husbands

Likewise, wives, (A)be subject to your own husbands, so that (B)even if some do not obey the word, (C)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your (D)respectful and pure conduct. (E)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be (F)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and (H)do not fear anything that is frightening.

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Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

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