Ephesians 6
1 You children, because you (belong to/have a close relationship with) the Lord [Jesus], obey your parents, because it is right [for you to do] that.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 God commanded [in the Scriptures], [Greatly] respect your father and mother. That is the first law [that God] commanded in [which he also] promised [something]. [He promised],
Honour thy father and mother (which is the first commandement with promise)
3 [If you do] that, you will prosper, and you will live a long time.
That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayst liue long on earth.
4 You parents (OR, You fathers), do not treat your children so severely that they become angry. Instead, bring them up well by instructing them and by disciplining them in [the manner that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do].
And ye, fathers, prouoke not your children to wrath: but bring them vp in instruction and information of the Lord.
5 You slaves, obey those who are [your masters]. Obey them very respectfully and sincerely [DOU], just like you obey Christ.
Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your hearts as vnto Christ,
6 Obey them, not only when they are watching [MTY] you, and not only to cause them to think highly/well of you. Instead, obey them as [though you were] [MET] slaves of Christ, [not slaves of your masters]. Do enthusiastically what God wants [you to do].
Not with seruice to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 Serve [your masters] zealously/wholeheartedly, as you would serve the Lord [Jesus], not as you would serve [ordinary] people.
With good will, seruing the Lord, and not men.
8 [Do this because] you know that [some day] the Lord Jesus will reward each person for whatever good [deeds] that person has done. He will reward people who are slaves and people who are not slaves.
And knowe ye that whatsoeuer good thing any man doeth, that same shall he receiue of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 You masters, just like your slaves [should serve you well], you similarly must treat them well. Stop threatening [to beat] them [if they do not do their work well]. Do not forget you and they have the same Lord who is in heaven. [So he is the one who will say to you and your slaves whether he approves of what you and they have done], and [when he judges people], he does not act more favorably [toward some than he acts toward others].
And ye masters, doe the same things vnto them, putting away threatning: and know that euen your master also is in heauen, neither is there respect of person with him.
10 Finally, at all times rely/depend completely on the Lord [Jesus] to strengthen you [spiritually] by his own mighty power.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 [Just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things [to help him fight]) [MET], you should [use every spiritual resource/help that God provides for you], in order that you may successfully resist the devil when he cleverly tries [to oppose you].
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaultes of the deuil.
12 You must do this because the fighting that we [believers] do is not only against human beings [SYN]. Instead, we are also fighting against evil spirits who rule and have authority over all that is evil [MET] in the world. And we are fighting against evil spirits who are in heavenly places (OR, everywhere). (aiōn g165)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against the worldly gouernours, the princes of the darkenesse of this worlde, against spirituall wickednesses, which are in ye hie places. (aiōn g165)
13 Therefore, [just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things to help him fight) [MET], [use well all the spiritual resources/helps that God provides for you]. Do that in order that you may be able to resist successfully the devil and all his powerful evil spirits [MTY] every time they (attack you/tempt you to sin or cause something bad to happen to you). [Do it also in order that] when you have done all that you can to resist them [when they attack you], you will still be ready to resist them [when they attack you the next time].
For this cause take vnto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the euill day, and hauing finished all things, stand fast.
14 You must be ready to firmly [resist the devil and his evil spirits] [MET], [just like soldiers must be ready to resist the enemy. Prepare for doing that by doing these things]: [To be strong spiritually], hold firmly to [God’s] truth, just like soldiers prepare (to stand firm against/to firmly resist) their enemies by fastening their belts around their waists [MET]. Act righteously [in order to protect yourself against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on breastplates [to protect their chests against their enemies’ attacks] [MET].
Stand therefore, and your loynes girded about with veritie, and hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse,
15 Hold fast the good message [that gives us] peace [with God, just like soldiers] put on their boots firmly [MET] (to stand firm [against/] firmly [resist]) [their enemies].
And your feete shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
16 In addition, keep trusting firmly [in the Lord. That will enable you to protect yourselves from anything that Satan], the evil one, [may do to harm you spiritually, just like soldiers] carry shields [to protect themselves against] the arrows that have flaming tips [that their enemies shoot at them] [MET].
Aboue all, take the shielde of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked,
17 And [rely/depend on the fact that God] has saved you, [in order to protect yourselves against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on a helmet [to protect] their [heads from attacks by] their [enemies] [MET]. And be ready to use [the weapon that God’s] Spirit [has given you], which is the message of God, [in order to fight against] ([demonic powers/Satan]), [just like soldiers] use their swords [to fight against their enemies] [MET].
And take the helmet of saluation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the worde of God.
18 As you are doing that, keep praying [to God] at all times, and requesting him [to do things for you and others; ] and let God’s Spirit [direct what you pray]. For this purpose, always be [spiritually] alert/watchful, and (always be persistent in/never quit) praying for all God’s people.
And pray alwayes with all maner prayer and supplication in the Spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseuerance and supplication for al Saints,
19 And [specifically], pray for me. Pray that God will tell me what I should say [MTY] whenever I speak, in order that I may boldly tell others the good message about Christ. People did not know that message before, [but God has now revealed it to me].
And for me, that vtterance may be giuen vnto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel,
20 I am (a representative [of Christ]/one who speaks on behalf [of Christ]) [as I tell this message to others, and] I am in prison [MTY] [because of that]. Pray that when I tell [others about Christ], I may speak without being afraid, because that is how I ought to speak.
Whereof I am the ambassadour in bonds, that therein I may speake boldely, as I ought to speake.
21 In order that you may know about [what is happening] to me and what I am doing, I am sending Tychicus [to you with this letter]. He will tell you everything [that is happening here]. He is a fellow believer whom we all [(inc)] love very much, and he serves the Lord [Jesus] faithfully.
But that ye may also know mine affaires, and what I doe, Tychicus my deare brother and faithfull minister in the Lord, shall shewe you of all things,
22 That is the reason that I am sending him [to you]; I want you to know (how my companions and I are/what is happening to my companions and me), and I want him to encourage you [SYN].
Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that ye might knowe mine affaires, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 [I pray that] God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will cause all of you fellow believers to have [inner] peace, and [enable you to] love [each other] and to continue trusting [in Christ].
Peace be with the brethren, and loue with faith from God the Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
24 I pray that God will continue to act kindly to [you and] to all [others] who love our Lord Jesus Christ and will never quit loving him.
Grace be with all them which loue our Lord Iesus Christ, to their immortalitie, Amen. ‘Written from Rome vnto the Ephesians, and sent by Tychicus.’
