Ephesians 5:1-21
New American Standard Bible 1995
Be Imitators of God
5 (A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (B)walk in love, just as Christ also (C)loved [a]you and (D)gave Himself up for us, an (E)offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a (F)fragrant aroma.
3 But (G)immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no (H)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which (I)are not fitting, but rather (J)giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that (K)no [e]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (L)of Christ and God.
6 (M)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (N)the wrath of God comes upon (O)the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be (P)partakers with them; 8 for (Q)you were formerly (R)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (S)children of Light 9 (for (T)the fruit of the Light consists in all (U)goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [f](V)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (W)Do not participate in the unfruitful (X)deeds of (Y)darkness, but instead even [g](Z)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (AA)when they are [h]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [i]it says,
15 Therefore [j]be careful how you (AE)walk, not (AF)as unwise men but as wise, 16 [k](AG)making the most of your time, because (AH)the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but (AI)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AJ)do not get drunk with wine, [l]for that is (AK)dissipation, but be (AL)filled with the Spirit, 19 (AM)speaking to [m]one another in (AN)psalms and (AO)hymns and spiritual (AP)songs, (AQ)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 (AR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [n](AS)God, even the Father; 21 [o](AT)and be subject to one another in the [p](AU)fear of Christ.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ephesians 5:2 One early ms reads us
- Ephesians 5:2 Lit for an odor of fragrance
- Ephesians 5:3 Lit and all
- Ephesians 5:3 Or holy ones
- Ephesians 5:5 I.e. one who commits sexual immorality
- Ephesians 5:10 Lit proving what
- Ephesians 5:11 Or reprove
- Ephesians 5:13 Or reproved
- Ephesians 5:14 Or He
- Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
- Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
- Ephesians 5:18 Lit in which is
- Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
- Ephesians 5:20 Lit the God and Father
- Ephesians 5:21 Lit being subject
- Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.