Ephesians 4:17-32

Modern English Version

The Old Life and New Life

¹⁷ Therefore this I say and testify in the Lord, that from now on you walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, excluded from the life of God through the ignorance that is within them, due to the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ Being calloused they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

²⁰ But you did not learn about Christ in this manner, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ and that you put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.

Rules for the New Life

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truthfully with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. ²⁷ Do not give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who steals steal no more. Instead, let him labor, working with his hands things which are good, that he may have something to share with him who is in need.

²⁹ Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, that it may give grace to the listeners. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. ³² And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.