Ephesians 6

1 CHILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

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

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; )

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

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

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

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

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

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the 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 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

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

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond 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, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

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

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

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles 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 we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual 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 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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

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

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

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

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

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 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 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

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

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, 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 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

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

21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

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 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort 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 be to the brethren, and love 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 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.

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