Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;

2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.

3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others' property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints;

4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise.

5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Have no part with such men;

8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light

9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

(Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true),

10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

Testing by experience what is well-pleasing to the Lord;

11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

And have no company with the works of the dark, which give no fruit, but make their true quality clear;

12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

For the things which are done by them in secret it is shame even to put into words.

13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

But all things, when their true quality is seen, are made clear by the light: because everything which is made clear is light.

14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

For this reason he says, Be awake, you who are sleeping, and come up from among the dead, and Christ will be your light.

15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Making good use of the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.

18 Do not be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;

19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Giving praise at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;

21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Letting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.

24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it;

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word,

27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.

28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself:

29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church;

30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

Because we are parts of his body.

31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.