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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.

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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”