Ephesians 5

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

Therefore imitate God, as his dear 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 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 fornication, impurity of any kind, and covetousness must not even be mentioned among you, because such things are improper for 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 should there be any obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but there should be thanksgiving instead.

nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; 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.

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 is coming upon the sons 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 partners with them.

Therefore have nothing to do with such people.

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

For the outcome of life in the Light may be seen in every form of goodness, righteousness, and sincerity —

10 Carefully determine what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take great care, then, how you live — not unwisely but wisely,

16 making the best use of 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 be drunk with wine, which leads to 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 melody with your hearts to the Lord,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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