Ephesians 5

1 Be ye therefore followers of YHWH, as dear children;

Therefore imitate God, as his dear children,

2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to YHWH for a sweetsmelling savour.

and live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

As for sexual immorality and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ’s people,

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of YHWH.

For of this you may be sure – that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

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

Do not let anyone deceive you with specious arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the wrath of God on the disobedient.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Therefore have nothing to do with such people.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye in the light of YHWH: walk as children of light:

For, although you were once in darkness, now, by your union with the Lord, you are in the light. Live as children of light –

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; )

for the outcome of life in the light may be seen in every form of goodness, righteousness, and sincerity –

10 Proving what is acceptable unto YHWH.

always trying to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

Take no part in deeds of darkness, from which no good can come; on the contrary, expose them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

It is degrading even to speak of the things continually done by them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

All such actions, when exposed, have their true character made manifest by the light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and the Messiah shall give thee light.

For everything that has its true character made manifest is clear as light. And that is why it is said – “Sleeper, awake! Arise from the dead, and the Christ will give you light!”

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

Take great care, then, how you live – not unwisely but wisely,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of YHWH is.

Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Do not drink wine to excess, for that leads to profligacy; but seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs.

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to YHWH;

Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto YHWH the Father in the name of our Master Yahushua the Messiah;

Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of YHWH.

Submit to one another because you honour and respect Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto Yahushua.

Wives should submit to their husbands as submitting to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as the Messiah is the head of the assembly: and he is the saviour of the body.

For a man is the head of his wife, as the Christ is the head of the church – being indeed himself the Saviour of his body.

24 Therefore as the assembly is subject unto the Messiah, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

But as the church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as the Messiah also loved the assembly, and gave himself for it;

Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her,

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

to make her holy, after purifying her by the washing with the water, according to his promise;

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious assembly, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

so that he might himself bring the church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

That is how husbands ought to love their wives – as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself;

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Yahushua the assembly:

for no one ever yet hated his own body. But everyone feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the church;

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

for we are members of his body.

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

For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife; and the man and his wife will become one.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning the Messiah and the assembly.

In this there is a profound truth – I am speaking of Christ and his church.

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

However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.