Ephesians 5

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children,

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children,

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

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, impurity of any kind, and covetousness must not even be mentioned among you, because such things are improper for saints.

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

4 Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but there should be thanksgiving instead.

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

5 For you know that no one who is a fornicator, impure, or covetous (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of 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 empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming 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 Therefore do not be partners with them.

Therefore do not be participants with them

8 For you were once darkness, but now you 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 Spirit is found in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).

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

10 Carefully determine what is pleasing to the Lord.

approving what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but expose them instead.

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

12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do in secret.

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

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes illuminated, and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

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

14 Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon yoʋ.”

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

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

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

16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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

18 Do not be drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery, 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, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts 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 always giving thanks for everything to our God and 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 and submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

submitting to one another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit to your 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, just as Christ is the head and Savior of the church, which is his 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 Just as the church submits to Christ, so wives should submit 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, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

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

26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word,

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

27 so that he might present her to himself as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and unblemished.

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 the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves 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 has ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and cares for it, just as the Lord does for 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 because 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 reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become 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 is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.

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

33 Nevertheless, each man among you must love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect 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.