19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(A) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(B) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(C)

22 But the fruit(D) of the Spirit is love,(E) joy, peace,(F) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(G) Against such things there is no law.(H) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(I) with its passions and desires.(J) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(K) let us keep in step with the Spirit.

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19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(A) your old self,(B) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(C) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(D) 24 and to put on(E) the new self,(F) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(G)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(H) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(I) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(J) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(K) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(L) doing something useful with their own hands,(M) that they may have something to share with those in need.(N)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(O) but only what is helpful for building others up(P) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(Q) with whom you were sealed(R) for the day of redemption.(S) 31 Get rid of(T) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(U) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(V) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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Put to death,(A) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(B) sexual immorality,(C) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(D) which is idolatry.(E) Because of these, the wrath of God(F) is coming.[a] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(G) But now you must also rid yourselves(H) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(I) and filthy language from your lips.(J) Do not lie to each other,(K) since you have taken off your old self(L) with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,(M) which is being renewed(N) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.(O) 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,(P) circumcised or uncircumcised,(Q) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,(R) but Christ is all,(S) and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(T) with compassion, kindness, humility,(U) gentleness and patience.(V) 13 Bear with each other(W) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(X) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(Y) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(Z)

15 Let the peace of Christ(AA) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(AB) you were called to peace.(AC) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(AD) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(AE) through psalms,(AF) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(AG)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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