Ephesians 3:1-4:16

New International Version

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

²Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(B) for you, ³that is, the mystery^(C) made known to me by revelation,^(D) as I have already written briefly. ⁴In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(E) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^(F) ⁶This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(G) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(H) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(I)

⁷I became a servant of this gospel^(J) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(K) through the working of his power.^(L) ⁸Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(M) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(N) the boundless riches of Christ,^(O) ⁹and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(P) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(Q) should be made known^(R) to the rulers and authorities^(S) in the heavenly realms,^(T) ¹¹according to his eternal purpose^(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(V) with freedom and confidence.^(W) ¹³I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴For this reason I kneel^(X) before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches^(Y) he may strengthen you with power^(Z) through his Spirit in your inner being,^(AA) ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(AB) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(AC) and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^(AD) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(AE) is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(AF)—that you may be filled^(AG) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(AH)

²⁰Now to him who is able^(AI) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(AJ) or imagine, according to his power^(AK) that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(AL)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(AM) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(AN) of the calling^(AO) you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(AP) in love.^(AQ) ³Make every effort to keep the unity^(AR) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^(AS) ⁴There is one body^(AT) and one Spirit,^(AU) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(AV); ⁵one Lord,^(AW) one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all,^(AX) who is over all and through all and in all.^(AY)

⁷But to each one of us^(AZ) grace^(BA) has been given^(BB) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it^[b] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives^(BC)
and gave gifts to his people.”^[c]^(BD)

⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[d]? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended^(BE) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(BF) ¹¹So Christ himself gave^(BG) the apostles,^(BH) the prophets,^(BI) the evangelists,^(BJ) the pastors and teachers,^(BK) ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(BL) may be built up^(BM) ¹³until we all reach unity^(BN) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(BO) and become mature,^(BP) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(BQ)

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants,^(BR) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(BS) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^(BT) ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(BU) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(BV) that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(BW) and builds itself up^(BX) in love,^(BY) as each part does its work.

Footnotes

Ephesians 3:15 The Greek for family (patria) is derived from the Greek for father (pater).
Ephesians 4:8 Or God
Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth

Proverbs 5:1-6:19

New International Version

Warning Against Adultery

5 My son,^(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words^(B) of insight,
²that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.
³For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;^(C)
⁴but in the end she is bitter as gall,^(D)
    sharp as a double-edged sword.
⁵Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.^(E)
⁶She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.^(F)

⁷Now then, my sons, listen^(G) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸Keep to a path far from her,^(H)
    do not go near the door of her house,
⁹lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,
¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.^(I)
¹¹At the end of your life you will groan,
    when your flesh and body are spent.
¹²You will say, “How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!^(J)
¹³I would not obey my teachers
    or turn my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴And I was soon in serious trouble^(K)
    in the assembly of God’s people.”^(L)

¹⁵Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸May your fountain^(M) be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.^(N)
¹⁹A loving doe, a graceful deer^(O)—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

²¹For your ways are in full view^(P) of the Lord,
    and he examines^(Q) all your paths.^(R)
²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;^(S)
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.^(T)
²³For lack of discipline they will die,^(U)
    led astray by their own great folly.^(V)

Warnings Against Folly

6 My son,^(W) if you have put up security^(X) for your neighbor,^(Y)
    if you have shaken hands in pledge^(Z) for a stranger,
²you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
³So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—^[b]
    and give your neighbor no rest!
⁴Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no slumber to your eyelids.^(AA)
⁵Free yourself, like a gazelle^(AB) from the hand of the hunter,^(AC)
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.^(AD)

⁶Go to the ant, you sluggard;^(AE)
    consider its ways and be wise!
⁷It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
⁸yet it stores its provisions in summer^(AF)
    and gathers its food at harvest.^(AG)

⁹How long will you lie there, you sluggard?^(AH)
    When will you get up from your sleep?
¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest^(AI)—
¹¹and poverty^(AJ) will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

¹²A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
¹³    who winks maliciously with his eye,^(AK)
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,^(AL)
¹⁴    who plots evil^(AM) with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.^(AN)
¹⁵Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;^(AO)
    he will suddenly^(AP) be destroyed—without remedy.^(AQ)

¹⁶There are six things the Lord hates,^(AR)
    seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷        haughty eyes,^(AS)
        a lying tongue,^(AT)
        hands that shed innocent blood,^(AU)
¹⁸        a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,^(AV)
¹⁹        a false witness^(AW) who pours out lies^(AX)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.^(AY)