Ephesians 4
1 Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.
ⲁ̅ϯⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ϭⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲙⲏⲣ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲧⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲙⲡϣⲁ ⲙⲡⲧⲱϩⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲉϩⲙ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
2 Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).
ⲃ̅ϩⲛ ⲑⲃⲃⲓⲟ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲓ ⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲣⲁϣ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧϩⲁⲣϣϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲉⲭⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛⲉⲣⲏⲩ ϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ
3 [God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].
ⲅ̅ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϭⲉⲡⲏ ⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲧⲙⲛⲧⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲣⲣⲉ ⲛϯⲣⲏⲛⲏ
4 [All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].
ⲇ̅ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲉϩⲙ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛⲧⲱϩⲙ
5 There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.
ⲉ̅ⲟⲩϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ
6 There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.
ⲋ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉϥϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
ⲍ̅ⲁⲩϯϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡϣⲓ ⲛⲧⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ
8 [When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:
ⲏ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϣⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲡϫⲓ ⲥⲉ ⲁϥⲁⲓⲭⲙⲁⲗⲱⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲓⲭⲙⲁⲗⲱⲥⲓⲁ ⲁϥϯ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲟ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
ⲑ̅ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲛⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ⲣⲱ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ
10 Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.
ⲓ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲛⲉⲧϣⲏⲕ ⲙⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲟⲛ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲡⲉ ⲛⲙⲡⲏⲩⲉ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉϫⲉⲕ ⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
11 He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϯϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲛϣⲱⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲥⲁϩ
12 [He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲉⲡⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲧⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲓⲁ ⲉⲡⲕⲱⲧ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ
13 He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ϣⲁⲛⲧⲛⲉⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲛ ⲉⲡⲓⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲗⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲡϣⲓ ⲛⲧϭⲟⲧ ⲙⲡϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ
14 Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ϭⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉⲣⲉⲡϩⲟⲉⲓⲙ ϥⲓ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲉⲛϣⲉⲉⲓ ⲙⲛⲧⲏⲩ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲧⲉⲥⲃⲱ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲕⲩⲃⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲣⲅⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ ⲛⲕⲟⲧⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲡⲗⲁⲛⲏ
15 Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲉⲛϫⲓⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲛⲧⲛⲁⲩⲝⲁⲛⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲙⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲧⲁⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ
16 He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ϣⲱⲛⲃ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲁⲓⲁⲓ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲣⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲡϯ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲟⲩⲉⲛⲉⲣⲅⲓⲁ ϩⲙ ⲡϣⲓ ⲙⲡⲙⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲙⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉ ⲧⲁⲩⲝⲏⲥⲓⲥ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ
17 The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉⲓϫⲱ ϭⲉ ⲙⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲉⲓⲣⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲙⲧⲣⲉⲧⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϭⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲡⲉⲧϣⲟⲩⲓⲧ ⲙⲡⲉⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲩⲟ ⲛⲕⲁⲕⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ
18 They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲉⲩⲟ ⲛⲁⲗⲗⲟⲧⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲡⲱⲛϩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲧⲱⲙ ⲛϩⲏⲧ
19 The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲡⲟⲩⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲙⲟⲕϩⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡϫⲱϩⲙ ⲉⲡⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲙⲁⲓⲧⲟ ⲛϩⲟⲩⲟ
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
ⲕ̅ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲃⲟ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ
21 I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲧⲙⲉϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲉ ⲧⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲓⲏⲥ
22 [You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲉⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲛⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲡⲁⲧⲏ
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲉⲣⲃⲣⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛϩⲏⲧ
24 and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϯ ϩⲓⲱⲧ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲃⲣⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛⲧϥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲡ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲙⲉ
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲡϭⲟⲗ ϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲑⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲉⲣⲏⲩ
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ ⲙⲡⲣⲣⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲣⲏ ⲙⲡⲣⲧⲣⲉϥϩⲱⲧⲡ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲛⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲣϯⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ
28 Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.
ⲕ̅ⲏ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲱϥⲧ ⲙⲡⲣⲧⲣⲉϥϩⲱϥⲧ ϫⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲉϥⲣϩⲱⲃ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϭⲓϫ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲛⲧⲁϥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲙⲡⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲉϯ ⲙⲡⲉⲧϣⲁⲁⲧ
29 Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.
ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲣⲧⲣⲉⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲡⲕⲱⲧ ⲛⲧⲉⲭⲣⲓⲁ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ
30 [God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).
ⲗ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲡⲣⲗⲩⲡⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲧⲉ
31 Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.
ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ ϭⲱⲛⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲟⲣⲅⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁϣⲕⲁⲕ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲓ ϫⲓⲟⲩⲁ ϥⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲕⲁⲕⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ
32 Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].
ⲗ̅ⲃ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲛⲉⲣⲏⲩ ⲛϣⲁⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛⲉⲣⲏⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲕⲱ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ
