25 Since you put away(A) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,(B)[a] because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin.(C)[b] Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share(D) with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,[c] so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.(E) You were sealed by Him[d] for the day of redemption.(F) 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind(G) and compassionate(H) to one another, forgiving(I) one another, just as God also forgave you[e] in Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:25 Zch 8:16
  2. Ephesians 4:26 Ps 4:4
  3. Ephesians 4:29 Lit for the building up of the need
  4. Ephesians 4:30 Or Spirit, by whom you were sealed
  5. Ephesians 4:32 Other mss read us

Old Behavior, New Behavior, and Motivation

25 Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor,[a] because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin;[b] do not let the sun set on your anger, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. 29 No rotten word must proceed[c] from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear, 30 and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness. 32 Become[d] kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:25 An allusion to Zech 8:16
  2. Ephesians 4:26 An allusion to Ps 4:4
  3. Ephesians 4:29 Literally “Every rotten word must not proceed”
  4. Ephesians 4:32 Some manuscripts have “But become”