< Ephesians 6 >
1 Children, obey your parents in our Lord; for this is right.
Children, be obedient to your parents as a Christian duty, for it is a duty.
2 And the first commandment with promise, is this: Honor thy father and thy mother;
"Honour your father and your mother" --this is the first Commandment which has a promise added to it--
3 that it may be well with thee, and that thy life may be prolonged on the earth.
"so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth."
4 And parents, anger not your children; but train them up in the discipline and doctrine of our Lord.
And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.
5 Servants, be obedient to your masters after the flesh, with fear, and with trepidation, and with simplicity of heart, as unto the Messiah.
Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ.
6 Not in the sight of the eye, as if ye were pleasing men; but as the servants of the Messiah, who are doing the will of God.
Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.
7 And serve them with your whole heart, in love, as if serving our Lord and not men;
With right good will, be faithful to your duty as service rendered to the Lord and not to man.
8 knowing that whatever good thing a man may do, the same will be recompensed to him by our Lord, whether he be a servant or a free man.
You well know that whatever right thing any one does, he will receive a requital for it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free man.
9 Also ye masters, do ye so to your servants. Forgive them a fault; because ye know, that ye have a master in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.
And you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in our Lord, and; in the energy of his power:
In conclusion, strengthen yourselves in the Lord and in the power which His supreme might imparts.
11 And put ye on; the whole armor of God, so that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Accuser.
Put on the complete armour of God, so as to be able to stand firm against all the stratagems of the Devil.
12 For our conflict is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities, and with those in authority, and with the possessors of this dark world, and with the evil spirits that are beneath heaven. (aiōn )
For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare. (aiōn )
13 Therefore put ye on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to meet the evil one; and, being in all respects prepared, may stand firm.
Therefore put on the complete armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field.
14 Stand up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness;
Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness
15 and defend your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation for your feet.
16 And herewith take to you the confidence of faith, by which ye will have power to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
And besides all these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one;
17 And put on the helmet of rescue; and take hold of 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 And pray ye, with all prayers and supplications, in spirit, at all times: and in prayer be watchful, at all seasons, praying constantly, and interceding for all the saints:
Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people,
19 and also for me; that language may be given me, in the opening of my mouth; so that I may boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
and ask on my behalf that words may be given to me so that, outspoken and fearless, I may make known the truths (hitherto kept secret) of the Good News--
20 of which I am a messenger in chains; that I may utter it boldly, as I ought to utter it.
to spread which I am an ambassador in chains--so that when telling them I may speak out boldly as I ought.
21 And that ye also may know my affairs, and what I am doing, lo, Tychicus, a beloved brother, and a faithful minister in our Lord, will acquaint you;
But in order that you also may know how I am doing, Tychicus our dearly-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's service will tell you everything.
22 whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that ye might know what is going on with me, and that your hearts may be comforted.
I have sent him to you for the very purpose--that you may know about us and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
Peace be to the brethren, and love combined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them who love our Lord Jesus the Messiah without corruptness. Amen.
May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with perfect sincerity.