Ephesians 6
1 Children, do what your parents tell you, for this is the right thing to do.
Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.
2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment that has a promise attached:
‘Honor your father and mother’ – this is the first Commandment with a promise –
3 “that things may go well for you and you may live a long life on the earth.”
‘so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth.’
4 Fathers, don't make your children mad, but look after them by disciplining them and instructing them about God.
And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.
5 Servants, obey those who are your human masters, with proper respect and awe, doing things from sincere motives as if you were serving Christ.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ;
6 Don't just work well when you're being watched to gain approval, but work like servants of Christ, honestly doing God's will,
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 happily serving as if you were doing it for the Lord, and not for people.
Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for people;
8 You know that whoever does what's good will be rewarded by the Lord, whether that person is a servant or someone who is 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 Masters, you should treat your servants the same way. Don't threaten them, remember that the Lord in heaven is both their master and yours, and he treats people the same, without favoritism.
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 Lastly, stay strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power.
For the future, find strength in your union with the Lord, and in the power which comes from his might.
11 Put on all the armor of God so you can withstand all the devil's attacks!
Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the stratagems of the devil.
12 We're not fighting against human forces, but against supernatural rulers and powers, the dark lords of this world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. (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 Take all the weapons God provides so that you may be able to stand your ground in the day of evil and after doing all you can, to find yourself still standing!
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 So stand up, wrap the belt of truth around your waist, tie on the breastplate of justice and the right,
Stand your ground, then, with truth for your belt, and with righteousness for your breastplate,
15 and put on the shoes of readiness to share the good news of peace.
and with the readiness to serve the good news of peace as shoes for your feet.
16 Above all, take up the shield of trusting God, by which you'll be able to put out all the devil's flaming arrows.
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 Wear the helmet of salvation, and carry the sword of the Spirit—the Spirit that's 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 Always pray in the Spirit as you do all this. Stay awake and keep on praying for all God's people.
Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s people –
19 Pray for me too so that I'll be given the right words to say, and that I'll be able to explain confidently the hidden truths of the good news.
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 I'm an imprisoned ambassador for the sake of the good news, so please pray that I will speak fearlessly, as I should.
on behalf of which I am an ambassador – in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.
21 Tychicus, our good friend and faithful minister, will give you all my news and explain everything so you'll know how I'm doing.
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 That's why I'm sending him to you—to tell you what's happened to us and to encourage you.
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 all the Christians there, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, with love and trust in him.
May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give every follower peace, and love linked with faith.
24 Grace to all those who eternally love our Lord Jesus.
May God’s blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
