Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children,

2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved you, and gave himself for you an offering and a sacrifice to God, of a sweet odor.

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma.

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

But, you should not even talk about fornication or any form of moral corruption or insatiableness (as is fitting for saints);

4 neither obscenity, nor foolish talking, nor indecent jesting, which are not becoming; but rather giving of thanks.

nor any obscenity, nor foolish talk or coarse joking (that do not belong), but rather thanksgiving.

5 For of this ye are sure, since ye know that no whore-monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Because you can know this for sure: no fornicator, nor anyone who is morally corrupt or insatiable (actually an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with vain words; for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the sons of disobedience.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of the disobedience.

7 Be not therefore partakers with them.

Therefore do not be participants with them

8 For ye were once darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

—even though you were once darkness, you are now light in Sovereign. Walk as children of light

9 —for the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, —

(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

10 proving what is acceptable to the Lord;

approving what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

Do not associate with the unfruitful works of the darkness, but rather expose/reprove them.

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

(It is shameful even to speak of those things being done by them in secret.)

13 But all things, when reproved, are made manifest by the light; for whatever maketh manifest is light.

Now all things, upon being exposed, are revealed by the light, for whatever reveals is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light.”

Therefore He says: “Wake up, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and the Christ will shine on you.”

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly; not as unwise men, but as wise;

See then that you walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise,

16 buying up for yourselves opportunities, because the days are evil.

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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

That is why you must not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled with the Spirit,

And do not get drunk on wine, which is harmful and wasteful; rather be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord;

20 giving thanks always for all things to God, the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

always giving thanks to God the Father concerning all things, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

21 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

submitting to one another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord;

Wives, subordinate yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord,

23 for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, —he, who is the Saviour of the body.

because a man is head of his wife as also Christ is Head of the Church—He also is Preserver of the body.

24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their husbands in everything.

Yes, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also the wives should be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it,

Husbands, love your own wives just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up on her behalf,

26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the bath of the water in the word;

in order that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water: in a word,

27 that he himself might present to himself the church, glorious, having no spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

that He might present her—the splendid Church—to Himself, not having a blemish or a wrinkle or any such thing, but that she be holy and blameless.

28 In like manner husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself;

Just so the husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

29 for no one ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ doth the church;

After all, no one ever hated his own flesh; rather he nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church

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

—for we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

31 “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

32 This mystery is a great one; but I am speaking of Christ and of the church.

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.

33 However, do ye also severally love each one his own wife as himself; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband.

In any case, each of you individually: let each one love his own wife as himself, while the wife must respect her husband.