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15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 [a]making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.(A) 19 [b]Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:16 The Greek word in this verse means “buy up at the market place.” Opportunity is regarded as a commodity to be used by believers.
  2. Ephesians 5:19 The Greeks had a tradition of holding drinking parties (called, in the singular, a symposium) where the object was to sing the praises of the pagan gods while becoming drunk. Perhaps with this tradition in mind, Paul instructs believers to “be filled” instead with the Holy Spirit and to sing meaningful praises to God.

15 So then, [a]be careful how you (A)walk, not (B)as unwise people but as wise, 16 [b](C)making the most of your time, because (D)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (E)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (F)do not get drunk with wine, [c]in which there is (G)debauchery, but be (H)filled with the Spirit, 19 (I)speaking to [d]one another in (J)psalms and (K)hymns and spiritual (L)songs, (M)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (N)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (O)God and Father;

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
  2. Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
  3. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  4. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves