Ephesians 6

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

Children, be obedient to your parents as a Christian duty, for it is a duty.

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

"Honour your father and your mother" --this is the first Commandment which has a promise added to it--

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

"so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth."

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

And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.

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, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying 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.

Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

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

With right good will, be faithful to your duty as service rendered to the Lord and not to man.

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.

You well know that whatever right thing any one does, he will receive a requital for it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free man.

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 you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him.

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

In conclusion, strengthen yourselves in the Lord and in the power which His supreme might imparts.

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 complete armour of God, so as to be able to stand firm against all 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 not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare. (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 put on the complete armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field.

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

Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness

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

as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation 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.

And besides all these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one;

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

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

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 with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God'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 ask on my behalf that words may be given to me so that, outspoken and fearless, I may make known the truths (hitherto kept secret) 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.

to spread which I am an ambassador in chains--so that when telling them I may speak out boldly 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.

But in order that you also may know how I am doing, Tychicus our dearly-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's service 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 have sent him to you for the very purpose--that you may know about us and that he may encourage you.

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

Peace be to the brethren, and love combined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with perfect sincerity.