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 our 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],

And the first commandment with promise, is this: Honor thy father and thy mother;

3 [If you do] that, you will prosper, and you will live a long time.

that it may be well with thee, and that thy life may be prolonged on the 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 parents, anger not your children; but train them up in the discipline and doctrine of our Lord.

5 You slaves, obey those who are [your masters]. Obey them very respectfully and sincerely [DOU], just like you obey Christ.

Servants, be obedient to your masters after the flesh, with fear, and with trepidation, and with simplicity of heart, as unto the Messiah.

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 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.

7 Serve [your masters] zealously/wholeheartedly, as you would serve the Lord [Jesus], not as you would serve [ordinary] people.

And serve them with your whole heart, in love, as if serving our 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.

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.

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].

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.

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 our Lord, and; in the energy of his power:

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].

And put ye on; the whole armor of God, so that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Accuser.

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 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 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].

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.

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 up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness;

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 defend your feet 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].

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.

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 put on the helmet of rescue; and take hold of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word 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 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:

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 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,

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.

of which I am a messenger in chains; that I may utter it boldly, as I ought to utter it.

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.

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;

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 have sent to you for this purpose, that ye might know what is going on with me, and that your hearts may be comforted.

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 love with faith, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

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 who love our Lord Jesus the Messiah without corruptness. Amen.