Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Therefore imitate God, as his dear children,

2 And walk in love, even as Messiah also loved us, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

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 sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

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

4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; 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 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Messiah and God.

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 one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Do not let any one deceive you with specious arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the Wrath of God upon the disobedient.

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Therefore have nothing to do with such people.

8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. 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 light 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 well pleasing to the Lord.

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

11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

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

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

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

13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

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

14 Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you."

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 shall give thee light!’

15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, 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 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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

18 Do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, 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 one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord;

Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus (the) Messiah to God the Father;

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

21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Messiah.

and submit to one another from reverence for him.

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

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

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Messiah also is the head of the church, being himself the savior 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 But as the church is subject to Messiah, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.

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 Messiah also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

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

26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

to make her holy, after purifying her by the Washing with the Water, according to his promise;

27 that he might present the church to himself gloriously, 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 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves 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 one ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Messiah also does the church;

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

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

for we are members of his Body.

31 "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

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

32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and of the church.

In this there is a profound truth — I am speaking of Christ and his Church.

33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects 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.