^29 (A)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^(B)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^(C)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. ^30 (D)He must increase, but I must decrease.”^[a]

^31 (E)He who comes from above ^(F)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ^(G)speaks in an earthly way. ^(H)He who comes from heaven ^(I)is above all.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (A)Wives, ^(B)submit to your own husbands, ^(C)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(D)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(E)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(F)himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(G)in everything to their husbands.

^25 (H)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(I)gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(J)the washing of water ^(K)with the word, ²⁷ so ^(L)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(M)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[a] 28} In the same way ^(N)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰ because ^(O)we are members of his body. ^31 (P)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(Q)the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be ^(A)the voice of a great multitude, like ^(B)the roar of many waters and ^(C)like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

for the fine linen is ^(H)the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said^[a] to me, “Write this: ^(I)Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, ^(J)“These are the true words of God.”