Ephesians 6

1 The children: obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right;

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 honor your father and mother,

“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with promise),

3 which is the first command with a promise, “That it may be well with you, and you may live a long time on the land.”

“so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And the fathers: do not provoke your children, but nourish them in the instruction and admonition of the LORD.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. Instead, raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5 The servants: obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;

Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with deep respect and trembling, in the honesty of your heart. Be obedient to them as you would be obedient to Christ.

6 not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Christ, doing the will of God out of [your] soul,

Be obedient not only when your masters are watching in order to please them. Instead, be obedient as slaves of Christ, who do the will of God from your heart.

7 serving with goodwill, as to the LORD, and not to men,

Serve with all your heart, as though you were serving the Lord and not people,

8 having known that whatever good thing each one may do, this he will receive from the LORD, whether servant or freeman.

because we know that for whatever good deed each person does, he will receive a reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

9 And the masters! Do the same things to them, letting threatening alone, having also known that your Master is in the heavens, and favor by appearance is not with Him.

Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them. You know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

10 As to the rest, my brothers, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might;

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 put on the whole armor of God, so you are able to stand against the schemes of the Devil,

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the scheming plans of the devil.

12 because our wrestling is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual [forces] of evil in the heavenly [places]; (aiōn g165)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (aiōn g165)

13 because of this take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the day of the evil, and having done all things—to stand.

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand in this time of evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm.

14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girded around in truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Stand, therefore, after you have put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

15 and having the feet shod in the preparation of the good news of peace;

Then as shoes for your feet, put on the readiness to proclaim the gospel of peace.

16 in all, having taken up the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one,

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, by which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 and receive the helmet of the 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 through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in this, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones—

With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit. To this end, always be watching with all perseverance, as you offer prayers for all the saints.

19 and in behalf of me, that to me may be given a word in the opening of my mouth, in freedom, to make known the secret of the good news,

And pray for me, that a message might be given to me when I open my mouth. Pray that I might make known with boldness the hidden truth about the gospel.

20 for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak freely—as it is necessary for me to speak.

It is for the gospel that I am an ambassador who is kept in chains, so that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 And that you may know—you also—the things concerning me—what I do, Tychicus will make all things known to you, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the LORD,

Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you may know how I am doing.

22 whom I sent to you for this very thing, that you might know the things concerning us, and that he might comfort your hearts.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and so that he may encourage your hearts.

23 Peace to the brothers, and love, with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 The grace with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ—undecayingly! Amen.

Grace be to all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an incorruptible love.