Ephesians 6:5-9
English Standard Version
Bondservants and Masters
5 (A)Bondservants,[a] obey your earthly masters[b] with fear and trembling, (B)with a sincere heart, (C)as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as (D)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (F)whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, (G)and stop your threatening, knowing that (H)he who is both their Master[c] and yours is in heaven, and that (I)there is no partiality with him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
- Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
- Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord
Ephesians 6:5-9
International Standard Version
Advice for Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey[a] the Messiah.[b] 6 Do not do this only while you’re being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah,[c] who are determined to obey God’s will. 7 Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people,[d] 8 because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves[e] the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ephesians 6:5 Lit. as to
- Ephesians 6:5 Or Christ
- Ephesians 6:6 Or Christ
- Ephesians 6:7 Lit. as to the Lord and not people
- Ephesians 6:9 Lit. treat them
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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