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 Honour thy father and thy mother, which 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 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long lived upon earth.

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

4 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but bring them up in 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 them that are 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 Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but, as the 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 With a good will serving, 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 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond, 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, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatenings, knowing that the Lord both of them and you is in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.

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 Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power.

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

11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits 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 wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the 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 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.

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 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice,

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

15 And your feet shod with 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 taking the shield of faith, wherewith 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 unto you 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 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and 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 for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, 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 For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought.

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

21 But that you also may know the things that concern me, and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things:

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 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and that he may comfort 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 be to the brethren 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 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption. Amen.

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