Ephesians 5:15-6:22

Christian Standard Bible

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[a](A) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand^(B) what the Lord’s will^(C) is. ¹⁸ And don’t get drunk^(D) with wine,^(E) which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:^{(F) 19} speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.^(G)

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives,^(H) submit^[b](I) to your husbands^(J) as to the Lord, ²³ because the husband is the head of the wife^(K) as Christ is the head^(L) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.^{(M) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(N) just as Christ loved^(O) the church and gave himself^(P) for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[c] her with the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.^{(Q) 28} In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of his body.^{[d] 31} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,^(R) and the two will become one flesh.^{[e](S) 32} This mystery^(T) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey^(U) your parents in the Lord, because this is right. ² Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, ³ so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.^{[f][g](V) 4} Fathers, don’t stir up anger^(W) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(X) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your human^[h] masters^(Y) with fear and trembling,^(Z) in the sincerity^(AA) of your heart, as you would Christ. ⁶ Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing God’s will^(AB) from your heart. ⁷ Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,^{(AC) 8} knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹ And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening^(AD) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(AE) with him.^(AF)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.^{(AG) 11} Put on^(AH) the full armor^(AI) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh^(AJ) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(AK) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,^(AL) spiritual forces in the heavens.^{(AM) 13} For this reason take up the full armor^(AN) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(AO) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(AP) therefore, with truth^(AQ) like a belt around your waist, righteousness^(AR) like armor on your chest,^{(AS) 15} and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield^(AT) of faith^(AU) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(AV) 17} Take the helmet^(AW) of salvation and the sword^(AX) of the Spirit^(AY)—which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray^(AZ) at all times in the Spirit^(BA) with every prayer and request, and stay alert^(BB) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(BC) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador^(BD) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

²¹ Tychicus,^(BE) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant^[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. ²² I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(BF) your hearts.^(BG)