Ephesians 5

1 So then, imitate God since you're his much-loved children.

Be ye therefore imitators of God as his dear children; and walk in love,

2 Live in love, just as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us, a gift and sacrificial offering to God like a sweet-smelling perfume.

even as Christ hath loved us, and given Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet perfume.

3 Sexual immorality or any kind of indecency or greed should never be mentioned concerning you, as God's people should not be doing such things.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or inordinate desire, let it not be even named among you; for so it becometh saints:

4 Obscene talk, stupid chatter, and coarse jokes are totally inappropriate—instead you should be thanking God.

nor ribaldry, nor buffoonery, nor wanton jesting, which are not meet: but rather giving of thanks.

5 You know it's absolutely sure that no-one who is sexually immoral, or commits indecency, or who is greedy, or is an idol-worshiper will inherit anything in the kingdom of Christ and God.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater, ) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Don't let anyone fool you with lying words, for it's because of such things that God's judgment is passed on the children of disobedience.

Let no one deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 So don't partner with them in this.

Therefore be not partners with them.

8 At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You are to live as children of light

For ye were heretofore darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord:

9 (and the fruit of light is everything that's good and right and true),

walk therefore as children of light, (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, )

10 demonstrating what the Lord really appreciates.

approving what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

11 Don't have anything to do with the pointless things that darkness produces—instead expose them.

And have no communion with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 It's shameful even to speak about the things such people do secretly,

For it is a shame even to relate the things that are done by them in secret.

13 but when anything is exposed by the light then it's revealed as it is. Light makes everything visible.

But all things to be reproved: are made manifest by the light: for whatever doth make manifest, is light.

14 That's why it's said, “Wake up, those of you who are sleeping, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 So be careful how you live your life, not foolishly, but wisely,

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise men:

16 making the best use of opportunities because the days are evil.

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 So don't be ignorant—find out what the Lord's will is.

Wherefore be not thoughtless, but consider what is the will of the Lord.

18 Don't get drunk on wine which will wreck your life, but be filled with the Spirit.

And be not drunk with wine, in which there is riotous excess; but be filled with the Spirit:

19 Share together with one another, using psalms and hymns and sacred songs, singing and making music to the Lord to express what you feel.

speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord:

20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

always giving thanks for all to God even the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Each of you should be willing to accept what others tell you to do out of reverence for Christ.

submitting yourselves to each other in the fear of God.

22 Wives, do what your own husbands tell you to do, as you would if the Lord told you.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord:

23 The husband is head of the wife in the same way as Christ is head of the church—his body and its savior.

for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and the saviour of that body.

24 In the same way that the church does what Christ says, wives should do what their husbands tell them in all things.

As the church then is subject to Christ, so also should wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, you should love your wives in the same way as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave up Himself for it:

26 He made it holy, he made it clean by washing in the water of the word,

to sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 so that he could make the church his own, with no flaw or blemish or any kind of fault, but holy and blameless.

that He might prepare it for Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and unblameable.

28 Husbands should love their wives just like this, as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself—

Men ought so to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himself.

29 for no one ever hated his own body, but feeds it and looks after it, just as Christ does for the church,

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord also doth the church:

30 for we are parts of his body.

for we are members of his body, as if taken out of his flesh, and of his bones, as Eve was out of Adam's.

31 “This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is joined to his wife, and the two are united in one.”

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a deep hidden truth—but I'm talking about Christ and the church.

This mystery is great: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.

33 However, each husband should love his own wife as he does himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and let the wife reverence her husband.