Ephesians 6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just.

Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.

2 Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise:

‘Honor your father and mother’ – this is the first Commandment with a promise –

3 so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth.

‘so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth.’

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.

And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.

5 Servants, be obedient to your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ;

6 Do not serve only when seen, as if to please men, but act as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please people, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.

7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for people;

8 For you know that whatever good each one will do, the same will he receive from the Lord, whether he is servant or free.

for you know that everyone will be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or free.

9 And you, lords, act similarly toward them, setting aside threats, knowing that the Lord of both you and them is in heaven. For with him there is no favoritism toward anyone.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank.

10 Concerning the rest, brothers, be strengthened in the Lord, by the power of his virtue.

For the future, find strength in your union with the Lord, and in the power which comes from his might.

11 Be clothed in the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the treachery of the devil.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the stratagems of the devil.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. (aiōn g165)

For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various powers of evil that hold sway in the darkness around us, against the spirits of wickedness on high. (aiōn g165)

13 Because of this, take up the armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand the evil day and remain perfect in all things.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the evil day comes, you may be able to withstand the attack, and, having fought to the end, still to stand your ground.

14 Therefore, stand firm, having been girded about your waist with truth, and having been clothed with the breastplate of justice,

Stand your ground, then, with truth for your belt, and with righteousness for your breastplate,

15 and having feet which have been shod by the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

and with the readiness to serve the good news of peace as shoes for your feet.

16 In all things, take up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.

At every onslaught take up faith for your shield; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

17 And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God).

And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the message of God – always with prayer and supplication.

18 Through every kind of prayer and supplication, pray at all times in spirit, and so be vigilant with every kind of earnest supplication, for all the saints,

Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s people –

19 and also for me, so that words may be given to me, as I open my mouth with faith to make known the mystery of the Gospel,

and on my behalf also, so that when I begin to speak, words may be given me, so that I may fearlessly make known the inmost truth of the good news,

20 in such a manner that I may dare to speak exactly as I ought to speak. For I act as an ambassador in chains for the Gospel.

on behalf of which I am an ambassador – in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.

21 Now, so that you also may know the things that concern me and what I am doing, Tychicus, a most beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will make known everything to you.

To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear friend and faithful helper in the Master’s cause, will tell you everything.

22 I have sent him to you for this very reason, so that you may know the things that concern us, and so that he may console your hearts.

I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.

23 Peace to the brothers, and charity with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give every follower peace, and love linked with faith.

24 May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ, unto incorruption. Amen.

May God’s blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.