¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(A)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(B) because the days are evil.^{(C) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{(D) 18} Do not get drunk on wine,^(E) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(F) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(G) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(H) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households^(I)

²¹ Submit to one another^(J) out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(K) as you do to the Lord.^{(L) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(M) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(N) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(O) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(P) 26} to make her holy,^(Q) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(R) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(S) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(T) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(U) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(V) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b](W) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(A) like the roar of rushing waters^(B) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(J) of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me,^(K) “Write this:^(L) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(M) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(N)

² I saw the Holy City,^(A) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(B) prepared as a bride^(C) beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.^(D) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(E) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(F) There will be no more death’^[a](G) or mourning or crying or pain,^(H) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(I)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(J) said, “I am making everything new!”^(K) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(L)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done.^(M) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(N) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(O) from the spring of the water of life.^{(P) 7} Those who are victorious^(Q) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(R) 8} But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(S)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(T) This is the second death.”^(U)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(V) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,^(W) the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away^(X) in the Spirit^(Y) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^{(Z) 11} It shone with the glory of God,^(AA) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(AB) clear as crystal.^(AC)

¹⁷ The Spirit^(A) and the bride^(B) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.^(C)

²⁰ He who testifies to these things^(A) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”^(B)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(C)